Arsenal closed out their pre-season preparations with a 1-1 draw at home to Como, with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Marli Salmon among the standout performers.
This was a final chance for Mikel Arteta’s side to build fitness and sharpness before the Community Shield on Sunday, and it was an improved display, certainly defensively, on the last couple of matches.
Lewis-Skelly opens scoring
Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring after Jean Butez made a mess of playing out from the back, before Martin Baturina equalised with a brilliant strike.
Arsenal then won the penalty shootout 4-3, as David Raya made two saves and Christos Tzolis settled it by firing into the top corner.
Player ratings
Kepa Arrizabalaga was rated 5, with the goalkeeper unable to react in time when Baturina hammered past him at his near post. Theo Julienne scored 6, looking promising going forward but caught out defensively when Baturina skipped inside him.
Marli Salmon earned an 8 for mopping up brilliantly on the cover, with his pace getting Arsenal out of trouble and showing composure under pressure. Gabriel scored 6, with a concern when he went down after being caught but seeming fine after that, while Piero Hincapie got 7 for getting forward well on the overlap.
Midfield and attack ratings
Lewis-Skelly received an 8 for an emphatic response to recent speculation, looking as confident as he has as a No6. Ethan Nwaneri scored 7 for brilliant pressing that created a huge early chance for Eze and Jesus.
Eberechi Eze was rated 7 in his first 30 minutes of pre-season, combining nicely with Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri. Max Dowman scored 5, with decision-making letting him down at times, while Gabriel Jesus got 4, with little to suggest Arsenal are wrong for trying to sell him this summer. Gabriel Martinelli was rated 5, with flashes of pace but a poor final ball.
Substitutes' impact
Among the substitutes, Viktor Gyokeres scored 5, Fabio Vieira got 4 after wasting a massive chance, and Cristhian Mosquera was rated 6. Martin Odegaard earned 7 for gorgeous footwork to play in Vieira, while Bruno Guimaraes scored 7 for tidy possession and top defending.
David Raya was rated 8 after racing off his line and making a top save with his feet, plus two great saves in the shootout. Mikel Merino scored 5 after a rusty pass, Ben White got 6, Riccardo Calafiori 6, Noni Madueke 6, Christos Tzolis 6, Kai Havertz 5, and Josh Ogunnaike was not rated.
