Lewis-Skelly Scores and Guimarães Debuts as Arsenal Beat Como 4-3 on Penalties

Myles Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring in the 33rd minute of Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Cesc Fabregas' Como at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal secured a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Italian side Como following a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Myles Lewis-Skelly provided the opening goal for the hosts in the 33rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Como goalkeeper Jean Butez to slot the ball home. The 19-year-old England international, who started the match in midfield, celebrated by making a heart sign to the supporters and tapping the Arsenal badge on his jersey. The visitors, managed by former Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas, leveled the score in the 43rd minute when Martin Baturina found the net.

Following the 1-1 stalemate in regulation time, the Premier League champions triumphed in a shootout. Summer acquisitions Bruno Guimarães and Christos Tzolis both converted their spot-kicks to ensure the 4-3 result. Guimarães, a Brazil international, made his first appearance for the club after completing a £75 million transfer from Newcastle United on Saturday. The midfielder entered the pitch as a halftime substitute, while goalscorer Lewis-Skelly was withdrawn in the 62nd minute to be replaced by Mikel Merino.

Lewis-Skelly Addresses Transfer Speculation

The performance by Lewis-Skelly comes amid intense transfer rumors linking the teenager to Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea. Despite signing a five-year contract with Arsenal last summer, the player's position in the squad faced scrutiny after he was utilized as a third-choice left back behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapié during the previous campaign. During that term, he was limited to just five starts in the Premier League. However, the friendly against Champions League-bound Como saw him return to his natural role in central midfield, a position where he experienced a resurgence toward the end of last season.

Midfield Competition and New Signings

Arsenal’s midfield roster has seen significant investment, creating a crowded path for academy graduates. The arrival of Guimarães adds to a unit that already features Declan Rice and captain Martin Odegaard. Mikel Arteta also has access to World Cup winners Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Merino within the current squad depth chart. The match served as a debut for the former Newcastle man, who joined the North London side just days prior to the midweek fixture.

Preseason Progress at Emirates Stadium

The draw against Fabregas' side forms part of Arsenal's 2026-27 preseason schedule. While the hosts controlled portions of the match, Baturina's equalizer just before the interval forced the game into the decisive penalty phase. The result maintains the momentum for the reigning English champions as they integrate new signings like Tzolis and Guimarães into the first-team tactical setup. Lewis-Skelly’s 62-minute shift in the engine room provided a direct look at his capabilities in his preferred central role before the veteran Merino took over for the final half-hour of play.