Bruno Guimaraes stepped onto the Emirates pitch for the first time in a pre‑season friendly against Italian side Como, while youngster Myles Lewis‑Skelly found the net amid ongoing rumours about his future at the club. The match ended 1‑1 after regular time, with Arsenal eventually prevailing 4‑3 in a dramatic penalty shoot‑out. Guimaraes, the £75 million midfielder Arsenal secured from Newcastle United earlier this summer, was introduced at the interval. His arrival was greeted with enthusiastic applause from the home crowd, eager to see how the new signing would adapt to Artur Mikel’s system.
The young Brazilian‑born play‑maker entered the game with the score level at 1‑1, having already seen his teammate Lewis‑Skelly equalise after Martin Baturina’s earlier strike for Como. Lewis‑Skelly’s goal came after he intercepted a wayward pass from Como goalkeeper Jean Butez, cutting the ball back and slotting it home with composure. The goal sparked speculation, as the academy graduate has been linked with a possible departure this summer. He celebrated by forming a heart shape with his hands, a gesture that quickly trended on social media and underscored his affection for the club’s supporters.
Despite Guimaraes’ energetic introduction, Arsenal were unable to secure a second‑half winner in open play. The match proceeded to a penalty shoot‑out, where both Guimaraes and fellow newcomer Christos Tzolis stepped up and converted their spot‑kicks, helping the Gunners edge out Como 4‑3 on penalties. The shoot‑out victory provided a fitting conclusion to a game that highlighted several emerging talents. Mikel Arteta made several notable selections for the friendly.
He left out regulars Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, all of whom had just returned from World Cup duty, opting instead to give minutes to younger squad members and recent signings. England internationals Eberechi Eze and David Raya, as well as Spain’s Mikel Merino and Noni Madueke, all featured, offering a glimpse of the squad’s depth ahead of the upcoming season.
Looking forward, Arsenal’s focus now shifts to the Community Shield against Manchester City, scheduled for Sunday in Cardiff, before the Premier League opener against Coventry City on 21 August, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Beyond the headline‑grabbing debut of Guimaraes and the controversial goal from a player rumored to be on his way out, another story emerged from the performance of 16‑year‑old defender Marli Salmon.
Alongside Max Dowman, Salmon started the match in central defence, with 18‑year‑old Theo Julienne at full‑back. As Arteta made a series of tactical substitutions, Salmon remained composed, delivering a consistently high level of play that earned him a standing ovation from the Emirates crowd when he was subbed off in the 88th minute.
Statistically, Salmon’s impact was impressive: he won nine of his 13 duels – the highest tally among all players on either side – and completed 42 of his 43 attempted passes, again topping the charts. These numbers reflected his confidence, technical ability, and maturity beyond his years, both in possession and in defensive contests.
Como’s head coach, former Arsenal academy product Cesc Fàbregas, praised the youngster’s display, saying, "Amazing. That's what it's all about.
Hale End does an amazing job." Arteta echoed the sentiment, noting that Salmon provides a credible defensive option for the first team and labeling his performance as "exceptional." In post‑match press conferences, Arteta spoke enthusiastically about Guimaraes, stating, "He only had three training sessions, but he looked good. He was really pushing to play some minutes today. I think he wanted to get his debut and feel the atmosphere in front of our fans immediately. You can sense a strong connection already, and I believe it will make us better." Midfielder Mikel Merino, speaking to Arsenal’s official YouTube channel, highlighted the team’s overall display: "I think we dominated.
The team showed what it is capable of. Everyone was at a good level. Honestly, I think we deserved to win; we had massive chances to score. We’ll take the positives into the next game and hopefully dominate every match like we did today." Regarding the upcoming Community Shield, Arteta added, "It’s another final and we want to win, we want to give the fans more happiness.
But especially for us, we want to compete. Wearing this shirt and this badge means a lot and that’s about giving everything and playing to our best capacity." The pre‑season schedule that led up to the Como encounter included a 3‑0 victory over MK Dons on 25 July, a 4‑1 win against Girona on 1 August, a 3‑1 loss to Real Betis in Dublin on 5 August, and a 3‑2 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on 9 August. The Arsenal side will now look to build on the momentum generated by these matches as they prepare for the season‑opening fixtures. Fans can stay updated with the latest Arsenal news, video highlights, and in‑depth analysis by following Sky Sports on WhatsApp, or by accessing the Sky Sports app for live coverage and on‑demand Premier League highlights.