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 introduced to supporters on Saturday before a friendly match against Dortmund on Sunday. Fans gathered on Wednesday evening to see the Brazilian international in action, though his appearance came in the second half.
The match saw Myles Lewis-Skelly open the scoring for Arsenal in the first half. Lewis-Skelly’s future has been a topic of discussion, with reported interest from Chelsea and Manchester United. However, Como equalised with a strike from Martin Baturina before Guimaraes entered the game.
Chants of “Bruno” were heard as the new number 39 stepped onto the pitch, with cheers following his first touch. Guimaraes, known for his combative style, executed a recovery tackle to thwart a Como counter-attack, passing the ball to David Raya in a sequence that drew a strong reaction from the crowd. Early indications of a partnership between Guimaraes and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard were also observed.
Guimaraes’ impact and tactical role
Manager Mikel Arteta fielded an experimental side for the friendly, including five academy graduates in the starting lineup. As the game progressed past the hour mark, Arteta introduced what was considered his strongest available side, with the upcoming Community Shield match against Manchester City on Sunday in mind.
Initially, Guimaraes played alongside Lewis-Skelly. After Lewis-Skelly was substituted and Mikel Merino and Odegaard were brought on, Guimaraes shifted to a deeper midfield role. Despite changes and a second-half drinks break affecting the game’s rhythm, 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 converted, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. This type of pass was tried multiple times by the midfielder, suggesting a potential contribution to Arsenal’s attacking play as the season begins. His seamless integration into the team’s play was noted as a reason for his acquisition.
Following the match, a pre-agreed penalty shootout took place. Guimaraes successfully converted his spot-kick, which could provide a confidence boost ahead of Arsenal’s first competitive match of the season on Sunday.
Arteta on debut and squad speculation
During his post-match news conference, Arteta was asked about Guimaraes’ readiness to start against Manchester City. Arteta stated, “Let’s see. He only had three training sessions. But he looked good.” He added that Guimaraes was eager to play minutes and experience playing in front of the fans immediately, noting a strong connection and belief that the player would improve the team.
Arteta also addressed speculation surrounding Lewis-Skelly’s future. The 19-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move away, with Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly interested, though Arsenal denies offering the player. Lewis-Skelly made a heart gesture to the crowd after scoring against Como, which Arteta described as an emotional reaction. Arteta declined to comment on transfer speculation, stating that interest in their players indicates they are performing well.
The manager also commented on the bond between supporters and academy players, calling it a natural occurrence seen with many players at the club. Arsenal had prepared for the Como match with a training session on Tuesday, which saw the return of England and Spain international players after their post-World Cup break, bringing the squad to full strength. The team aimed to return to winning ways against Como after a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup.
The training session was held at the Sobha Realty Training Centre ahead of the friendly fixture.
Source: bbc.com
