Arsenal concluded their pre-season with a penalty shootout victory over Cesc Fabregas’ Como at the Emirates after the sides couldn’t be separated over 90 minutes.
Myles Lewis-Skelly gave the Gunners the lead before Martin Baturina equalised shortly before half-time. Neither side could find a winner after the break, but David Raya emerged as the shootout hero before Christos Tzolis buried the decisive penalty for a 4-3 win.
Arsenal start brightly but Como hit back
Arsenal made an encouraging start, with Eberechi Eze heavily involved. Gabriel Jesus had perhaps the best early opportunity after Eze rounded the goalkeeper and found the Brazilian, but his effort struck the post.
The breakthrough eventually came through Lewis-Skelly. The youngster reacted to a poor clearance from Jean Butez, combining with Gabriel Martinelli before slotting home his first Arsenal goal since February 2025.
However, the lead didn’t last until the interval. Baturina worked his way through the Arsenal defence before firing past Kepa to make it 1-1.
Bruno debuts as Raya becomes the hero
There was another significant moment at half-time as new summer-signing, Bruno Guimaraes, made his Arsenal debut, quickly earning applause for an excellent recovery tackle.
Arsenal continued pushing after numerous changes. Fabio Vieira and Noni Madueke both forced saves, while Kai Havertz dragged an effort wide before later seeing a goal ruled out for offside.
At the other end, returning goalkeeper Raya twice denied Jesus Rodriguez late on to ensure the game went to penalties.
Raya then delivered again in the shootout, saving from Ivan Smolcic before denying former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata.
Bruno confidently converted his penalty on his Arsenal debut, while Madueke struck the post.
That left Tzolis with the opportunity to win it, and the summer signing emphatically found the top corner to give Arsenal a 4-3 shootout victory.
A win to finish pre-season, although there is still plenty for Arteta to work on before the serious business begins.
Next up: Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday at 3pm.
What were your biggest positives and concerns from tonight, and who impressed you most? Just how confident are you feeling ahead of Man City on Sunday?
Let us know in the comments.
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My positives, skelly having a good game and giving the fans all round a heart. Seems he is staying put.
The negative, Kepa… He should just be sold, doesn’t give the team any confidence. I think we need a no 2 keeper ASAP
Marli Salmon 16 years old and already a baller. This boy has qualities you seldom notice. He has everything in his toolbox and will hopefully have a bright future. I wish him all the best and really enjoyed watching him play 🔴⚪️
Good to see no injuries. One more friendly and then the fun begins.
There’s not much to take away from the game other than to see the way the starting lineup morphed slowly but surely into an almost full squad again. Julienne was a new one on me and did well. I liked Tzolis who put in some lovely corners and was speedy down the wing. With such a huge number of academy and fringe players to begin with it was never going to be silky but did improve as more first teamers were introduced
It struck me that Jesus must surely be on the way out and Guimares made a confident debut. Salmon also looked to be good enough for getting more chances at first team selection
And as Reggie aptly put it; no injuries
Salmon was the most impressive player, reminded me a lot of Saliba with his calm play, last ditch tackles and looking very comfortable with the ball. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he starts against City or Coventry. Better than Mosquera and Hincapie in my opinion.
It was terrific, the way that he slotted comfortably into Gabriel’s position when he was subbed off. Best of the defenders by far.
I doubt that we’ll see much of him starting PL & CL games until he develops physically into a central defender.
and that sums up our fanbase
we ger carried away
Unless there is an injury crisis he won’t start next Friday and way too early go say he’s better then others
I thought it was all about opinion?
it is
and my option is it’s getting carried away to say a 16 year is better then Mosquera and Hicap based on a pre season game
bet 100 pound he doesn’t start against Coventry ?
opinion
I wouldn’t dream of betting on whether he starts or not. Not my thing. But absolutely nothing wrong imo for thinking Salmon could have a future at Arsenal. Most have commented on how well he did and in life, I’ve learned, that we can all hope or dream.
oh not saying he can’t have a great future but he’s not starting next Friday
He’ll need to put on 30 pounds of muscle before he’s ready for starting PL games
Why the snide comment, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
so do you think he’s now better then Mosquera and Hicapia ?
do you think he starts against Coventry?
😂
Like me with my mudryk comment
😂
One comment in 20 sums up the fanbase?
when you read daily mate that Vin Jr , Alvarez , Mbappe , Williams , Barcola , Stones , Konsa , Alvarez , Rashford , etc are for various reason not suited to Arsenal ( more then one reader ) and you then read that a 16 year old is better then Mosquera and Hicap and Skelley is better then Zubimendi……yeah you start to see a pattern
You can see that those opinions exist but if they’re only 1 in 20, don’t think it’s accurate to say they sum up the fanbase. At best a significant minority.
have to agree to disagree mate
the amount I have read this summer and In the past quality players be told they wouldn’t suit Arsenal while players over hyped ….it’s more then 1 in 20
look how many have said no to VJr ,Barcola and Alavrez
more then 1 in 20
He is 16 years old with qualities you seldom notice from more mature players. He has everything to become a very good CB. Not carried away but loved to see him play. I think we should protect him and let him play matches suited for him. His quality on the ball has been impressive.
Yes and thats your opinion.
Yes, and your point is?
Thats your opinion. Thats the point?
Salmon and Tzolis were both great. It’s about time Vierra and Jesus were shown the permanent way out.
Good match report; an improvement on the previous 3-0 howler.
I think this pre season is negatively impacted by the WC. I hope the Cardiff result will erase the hangovers from unconvincing pre season runs.
We wasn’t impressive in the preseason last year either. I have watched all matches but we have been lacking too many players. We definitely have a strong squad, but hopefully we can replace some of our fringe players in this window.
We still need to reinforce the attack capability for the hard games that will come.Even if its Jean phillipe-Mateta or Igor Thiago,this are guys who know where the net is.
I am not opimistic about our start to the season, we have
a midfield full of defenders lacking qualities to create ??
But we seem to be churning out promising youngsters..
Hopefully we turn up on sunday, the leauge will be more competitive this time so we cant sleep on our laurels !!