Guimaraes’ First Appearance for Arsenal
Bruno Guimaraes made his debut for Arsenal in a 1-1 friendly draw against Como at Emirates Stadium. The midfielder, a reported £75m signing from Newcastle United, was officially announced on Saturday and introduced to supporters on Sunday before Arsenal’s friendly with Dortmund. Fans gathered at Emirates on Wednesday evening, anticipating his first appearance, though they had to wait until half-time.
Chants of “Bruno” were heard as the new number 39 stepped onto the pitch, with cheers following his initial touch of the ball. Guimaraes, known for his combative style, executed 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. Early indications of a partnership between Guimaraes and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard were also observed during the match.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta fielded an experimental side for the game, which included five academy graduates in the starting lineup. As the match progressed past the hour mark, Arteta introduced what could be considered his strongest available side, with the upcoming Community Shield fixture against Manchester City on Sunday in mind. Guimaraes initially played alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly. Following Lewis-Skelly’s withdrawal and the introduction of Mikel Merino and Odegaard from the substitutes’ bench, Guimaraes moved into the deepest-lying midfield role for Arsenal.
The flow of the match was affected by 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 finished, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. This type of pass, tried multiple times by the midfielder, suggests he could contribute to Arsenal’s attacking play as the season begins. Following the match, a pre-agreed penalty shootout took place, where Guimaraes confidently converted his spot-kick, potentially boosting his confidence ahead of Arsenal’s first competitive match of the season.
Lewis-Skelly’s Performance and Pre-Season Overview
Myles Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring in the first half for Arsenal. His performance came after a period of discussion regarding his future, with reported interest from Chelsea and Manchester United. The 19-year-old is said to be keen on remaining at Arsenal and fighting for a place in the starting lineup this season. His goal was a calm finish into the net after he led a press that forced an error from Como goalkeeper Jean Butez. Lewis-Skelly celebrated by tapping the badge and making a heart gesture, turning to all areas of the ground.
Lewis-Skelly has started every pre-season match and played effectively, demonstrating confidence on the ball and combining well with Eberechi Eze. He also appeared more secure in the No. 6 role compared to his performance against Borussia Dortmund. His display in this match was seen as a timely message amid the transfer speculation.
Arsenal’s pre-season has concluded, with the Premier League season set to begin in nine days. The team is still working towards full strength, with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice yet to feature for the club this summer. Both players returned to training recently, and the club is managing their fitness carefully, neither making the squad for this friendly. The team’s depth has also been a factor, with 18-year-old Theo Julienne starting due to caution surrounding Ben White’s fitness. The match against Como maintained a friendly atmosphere, with numerous player changes throughout, including Eze playing for half an hour, and Viktor Gyokeres, Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus each getting half an hour up front. Marli Salmon was the only Arsenal player to play for more than an hour. The World Cup has reportedly disrupted Arsenal’s preparations, and the club faces a challenge to be fully ready for the new season.
Looking Ahead to the Community Shield
Guimaraes’ impact in midfield was quickly apparent. After being caught on the ball, he immediately engaged in a challenge, resulting in a foul. Later, in the 90th minute, he intervened to recover the ball when Josh Ogunnaike lost possession, preventing a potential Como opportunity. The Brazilian also demonstrated his ability as a penalty taker in the shootout, confidently rolling the ball into the bottom corner. This performance, while not defining his time in north London, highlighted his seamless integration into the team, which was a key reason for his acquisition.
Arsenal will travel to Cardiff on Sunday to face Manchester City in the Community Shield, marking their first competitive fixture of the season.
Source: bbc.com