Arsenal 1-1 Como 1907: What we learned from the Premier League Champions’ final pre-season friendly
THE BIG BOYS ARE COMING BACK: The first sign that Mikel Arteta will have a few of his World Cup stars available for the start of the season, after all. Declan Rice did not feature in the squad but was very much part of the scene as he featured pitch side for the pre-match warm-up. Spain World Cup winners David Raya and Mikel Merino started on the bench alongside England semi-finalist Noni Madueke. Eberechi Eze was a step ahead of all of them as he started the match with all three Brazilian Gabis also there at the first whistle.
ALL IS FORGIVEN, BRUNO: Few players were booed louder than the latest Arsenal recruit Bruno Guimaraes when he played for Newcastle United. But all is forgiven now that he is one of their own. The battling Brazilian made his debut from the bench after half-time to huge cheers as the chant of ‘BRUNO, BRUNO’ rang around the stadium. Ethan Nwaneri was the unfortunate player who made way. Guimaraes looked comfortable from his first touch and constantly demanded the ball from his new teammates.
FAB AUDITION: Many see Como coach Cesc Fabregas, the former star Arsenal midfielder, as a long-term successor to Mikel Arteta. Fabregas looked the part in similar clothes to Arteta and impressed by the way he kept his side at their task even when they were being overrun by a strong Arsenal side and trailed to a Lewis-Skelly goal.
MYLES SMILES: The biggest cheer from the pre-match team announcements came when Myles Lewis-Skelly was introduced. The Hale end hero has started every pre-season match to date and has been the subject of some transfer talk this week. His 33rd minute goal was celebrated with much pointing to the badge and heart signs to the Clock End crowd. The support for the talented teenager was a clear sign that the Arsenal fans want him to stay. He has no interest in moving, and the club does not want to sell, so they will all be hoping this is the end of the matter.
GOLDEN GLOVES: David Raya will be chasing a record fourth consecutive Premier League Golden Glove clean sheet award in the new season. The Spain World Cup winner came on at the break for the first time this summer and instantly Arsenal went from looking defensively fragile to rock solid. Raya has such a reassuring quality that he raises the levels of all those playing in front of him. No disrespect to second choice Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had a good 45 minutes, but Raya is the gold standard for Arsenal goalkeepers now.
