Arsenal Edge Como on Penalties in Pre-Season Finale
Arsenal concluded their pre-season campaign with a victory over Cesc Fabregas’ Como side, winning 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Myles Lewis-Skelly initially put Arsenal ahead following a mistake by the Como goalkeeper, before Baturina equalized. Christos Tzolis then secured the win with the decisive spot-kick. The match also marked the debut of summer signing Bruno Guimaraes.
Pre-Season Results
Here's a recap of Arsenal's pre-season matches:
- Saturday, August 1, 7pm BST – Girona 1-4 Arsenal
- Wednesday, August 5, 7.30pm BST – Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
- Sunday, August 9, 2pm BST – Arsenal 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
- Wednesday, August 12, 7.30pm BST – Arsenal 1-1 Como (4-3 on PENS)
- Sunday, August 16, 3pm BST – Community Shield: Arsenal vs Man City
Minute by minute
- Full Time The game ends all square and we’ll have a penalty shoot-out shortly….Arsenal 1-1 Como
- 90+ GOOOOOAAAAA – NO!
- Penalties Christos Tzolis with the chance to win it for Arsenal. And he smashes it into the top corner! Arsenal win 4-3 on penalties!
- Penalties Alvaro Morata is booed as he prepares his run-up. Is that his first ever penalty? It looked it, an absolute shocker and Raya saves!
- Penalties Jesus Rodriguez comes up for Como and scores, as you’d expect he would. Noni Madueke with the short run up and stupid stuttered run-up. Bad combination and so it proves as he smashes the post with the keeper going the wrong way again!
- Penalties Ivan Smolcic up for Como. SAVED BY RAYA!
- Penalties Bruno Guimaraes to put Arsenal in front. Stuttered run up – like when missing in the World Cup – but this time he rolls it in with the keeper guessing wrong again!
- Penalties Maxence Caqueret for Como and he sends Raya the wrong way. Havertz is second for Arsenal and thumps his penalty to his right and again the keeper guesses wrong.
- Penalties Martin Odegaard is first up for Arsenal. He goes left, the keeper goes right and we’re level.
- Penalties Como to go first and it’s Luis Milla first. Raya goes the right way but the power beats him!
Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrated his goal with a love heart gesture towards the Arsenal fans, reaffirming his commitment to the club amidst transfer speculation.
Mikel Merino expressed his delight at returning to Arsenal, stating, “It’s very good to be back…Everyone has welcomed us back in the best way possible. I’m buzzing to be home.”
Match Stats
- Arsenal – Como
- Possession: 55% – 45%
- Shots: 14 – 5
- On target: 5 – 4
- Corners: 10 – 2
- Passes: 416 – 359
Despite the win, Arsenal are still without a win in pre-season. The goals came in the latter part of the first half, with Baturina cancelling out Lewis-Skelly’s opener. It will be interesting to see which players have done enough to secure a starting spot on Sunday.