Key Takeaways:
- Bruno Guimaraes made his first Arsenal appearance in a 1-1 draw with Como at the Emirates
- Myles Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring, with Martin Baturina equalising for Como before half-time
- Arsenal triumphed 4-3 in a penalty shootout, with new signing Christos Tzolis converting the winning spot-kick
Match Overview
Arsenal welcomed Bruno Guimaraes for his club debut in their final pre-season fixture, finishing 1-1 against Como at the Emirates on Wednesday. The Brazilian, who joined from Newcastle United last week for a reported £75 million, took to the pitch at half-time in front of an expectant home crowd.
Myles Lewis-Skelly handed Arsenal the lead after capitalising on a poor clearance from Como goalkeeper Jean Butez. Amid speculation about his potential departure, the 19-year-old midfielder celebrated with a heart-shaped gesture for the fans. However, Como responded before the interval through Martin Baturina, who found the net past Kepa Arrizabalaga to level the scores.
Bruno Guimaraes in action yesterday 🇧🇷 👋 pic.twitter.com/hQn5YVKHvc
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) August 13, 2026
Player Performances and Selection
Guimaraes, warmly received by supporters, featured for the first time since his high-profile transfer and impressed manager Mikel Arteta despite limited preparation. Arteta commented: “He only had three training sessions, but he looked good,” adding that Guimaraes was eager “to get his debut and the feeling of playing in front of our fans immediately.”
Arsenal opted to rest Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi following their recent World Cup involvement. However, Eberechi Eze, David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Noni Madueke all made their first pre-season appearances for the Gunners. Lewis-Skelly’s goal came under the spotlight amid ongoing reports surrounding his Arsenal future.
Post-Match Penalty Shootout
The encounter was capped by a penalty shootout, in which Arsenal edged Como 4-3. Christos Tzolis, a new addition to the squad, converted the decisive penalty. This concludes Arsenal’s pre-season campaign, as they next look ahead to meeting Manchester City in Sunday’s Community Shield.
Manager and Player Reactions
Reflecting on the match, Mikel Arteta expressed optimism regarding Guimaraes’ impact: “And, yeah, you sense immediately, I believe, a strong connection at play that is going to make us better.” Looking ahead to the Community Shield, Mikel Merino told the club’s social media: “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.”
