Arsenal draw with Como as Bruno Guimaraes makes debut
Guimaraes’ Debut Performance
Arsenal played to a 1-1 draw against Como in a friendly match at the Emirates Stadium, a game that saw the debut of new signing Bruno Guimaraes. The midfielder, who joined from Newcastle United for a reported fee of £75m, was officially announced on Saturday and introduced to supporters on Sunday before a friendly against Dortmund. Fans gathered at the Emirates on Wednesday evening, eager to see the Brazilian international in action, though they had to wait until the second half for his introduction.
Guimaraes entered the match to chants of “Bruno” from the crowd, with cheers accompanying his first touch. Known for his combative and all-action style, he quickly made an impact, executing a recovery tackle to thwart a Como counter-attack before passing the ball to David Raya, a sequence that drew a reaction from the crowd akin to a goal. Early in his appearance, signs of a potential partnership with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard were also observed.
Manager Mikel Arteta initially fielded an experimental side for the friendly, which included five academy graduates in the starting eleven. As the match progressed past the hour mark, Arteta introduced what was considered his strongest available lineup, with the upcoming Community Shield fixture against Manchester City on Sunday in mind. Guimaraes initially played alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly. After Lewis-Skelly was substituted and Mikel Merino and Odegaard came on, Guimaraes shifted to a deeper midfield role.
The flow of the game was affected by the numerous substitutions and a second-half drinks break. Despite this, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Cristhian Mosquera all had attempts on goal before the final whistle. Guimaraes attempted a chipped pass over the Como defence, which Havertz converted, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside flag. This type of pass, which the midfielder tried multiple times, offered encouragement to supporters regarding his potential to enhance Arsenal’s attacking play as the season commences. Following the match, a pre-agreed penalty shootout took place, in which Guimaraes confidently scored his spot-kick, potentially boosting his confidence ahead of Arsenal’s first competitive match of the season on Sunday.
Match Details and Squad Preparations
The scoring in the friendly was opened in the first half by Myles Lewis-Skelly. However, Como equalised with a strike from Martin Baturina before Guimaraes entered the game. The match concluded with a 1-1 scoreline. This friendly against the Italian side Como was Arsenal’s final pre-season fixture, following a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup.
Ahead of the Como match, Arsenal had been preparing at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. Tuesday’s training session saw the return of England and Spain international players after their post-World Cup break, bringing the squad to its full complement. The team aimed to return to winning ways against Como to conclude their pre-season schedule positively.
Arteta on Guimaraes and Lewis-Skelly
In his post-match news conference, Arteta was asked about Guimaraes’ readiness to start against Manchester City. Arteta noted that Guimaraes had only participated in three training sessions but looked good. He added that the player was eager to play minutes and experience his debut in front of the fans immediately, sensing a strong connection and believing Guimaraes would undoubtedly improve the team.
Arteta also addressed questions regarding Lewis-Skelly, whose future has been the subject of recent speculation. The 19-year-old midfielder has been linked with moves to rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, reports that Arsenal has denied. After scoring against Como, Lewis-Skelly made a heart gesture towards the crowd, which was interpreted by some as a pointed celebration. Arteta described Lewis-Skelly as a very emotional player, recalling past gestures on the pitch. He declined to comment on transfer speculation, stating that such attention indicates players are performing well. Arteta also commented on the natural bond between supporters and academy graduates, noting it is a common occurrence at the club.
While this performance will not define Guimaraes’ tenure in north London, his seamless integration into the team is seen as a key reason for his acquisition. Arsenal’s next competitive fixture is the Community Shield against Manchester City on Sunday.
Source: bbc.com
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
