Bruno Guimaraes makes Arsenal debut in 1-1 draw with Como
Guimaraes’ debut performance
Bruno Guimaraes made his debut for Arsenal in a 1-1 friendly draw against Como at the Emirates Stadium. The midfielder, a £75m signing from Newcastle United, was officially announced on Saturday and introduced to supporters on Sunday before a friendly match against Dortmund. Fans at the Emirates on Wednesday evening anticipated seeing the Brazilian international in action, with his introduction occurring at half-time.
Chants of “Bruno” were heard as the new number 39 stepped onto the pitch, followed by cheers for his first touch. Guimaraes, known for his combative style, executed a recovery tackle to thwart a Como counter-attack before passing to David Raya, a play that drew significant applause. Early indications of a partnership between Guimaraes and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard were also observed.
Mikel Arteta had fielded an experimental side for the match, including five academy graduates in the starting lineup. However, around the hour mark, Arteta introduced what was considered his strongest available side, with the upcoming Community Shield match against Manchester City in mind. Guimaraes initially played alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly, but after Lewis-Skelly’s withdrawal and the introduction of Mikel Merino and Odegaard from the bench, Guimaraes moved into the deepest-lying midfield role for Arsenal.
The match flow was affected by the numerous changes 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 behind the Como defense, which Havertz finished, but the goal was disallowed for offside. This type of pass over the defense was attempted multiple times by the midfielder, suggesting he could help Arsenal‘s attacking play as the season progresses.
Following the match, a pre-agreed penalty shootout took place, in which Guimaraes confidently scored his spot-kick. This could provide a confidence boost ahead of Arsenal‘s first competitive match of the season on Sunday.
Match events and team selections
Before Guimaraes’ introduction, Myles Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring for Arsenal in the first half. However, Como equalized with a strike from Martin Baturina. The match concluded with a 1-1 draw.
Ebere Eze made his first pre-season appearance for Arsenal, with Arteta making seven changes to the squad. Guimaraes started on the bench, poised for his home debut. Academy players Theo Julienne and Marli Salmon were included in the backline after making substitute appearances against Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup. Kepa maintained his position in goal, with Piero Hincapie and captain Gabriel completing the defense alongside the two Hale End teenagers.
Eze joined a midfield that included Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has started all four pre-season matches. Max Dowman and Gabriel Martinelli were deployed on the wings, and Gabriel Jesus completed the starting lineup. World Cup winners David Raya and Mikel Merino were among the substitutes, as was Noni Madueke, who recently participated in the World Cup with England. The Como team is managed by former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Arteta on Guimaraes and Lewis-Skelly
Arteta was questioned in his post-match news conference about Guimaraes’ readiness to start against Manchester City. He noted that Guimaraes had only had three training sessions but looked good. Arteta also mentioned that Guimaraes was eager to play minutes and experience playing in front of the fans immediately, sensing a strong connection and believing the player would improve the team.
There was considerable discussion surrounding Myles Lewis-Skelly before the match. The 19-year-old midfielder has been linked with a potential move away from Arsenal, with Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly among the interested clubs, a claim Arsenal denies. After scoring against Como, Lewis-Skelly made a heart gesture towards the crowd, which was interpreted as a pointed celebration.
Arteta described Lewis-Skelly as a very emotional player when asked about his goal. He declined to comment on transfer speculation, stating that such speculation about players indicates they are attracting attention and performing well. Arteta also commented on the natural bond between supporters and academy players, noting it has been observed with many other players at the club.
The match marked the first time Arsenal and Como have met in their histories, with Arsenal being the reigning Premier League champions.
Source: bbc.com
