Arsenal 1-1 Como: Five key takeaways from pre-season friendly
(Courtesy : Getty)
The Gunners finish pre-season with just one win.
Arsenal’s pre-season concluded with another poor result as they secured only one win in all their pre-season games ahead of the new campaign. It was one of the most overwhelming pre-seasons the Gunners endured as they couldn’t look like a side that won the title last campaign.
Their last pre-season game ended with a 1-1 draw against Italian team Como before they clinched the win on penalties. However, they once again let in an easy goal during regular time. Despite being a better side, the north Londoners were unable to find a winner and had to settle for a draw in the game before prevailing on spot-kicks.
Five takeaways from pre-season friendly game
5. Cesc Fabregas faced his former club as a coach
Cesc Fabregas might have been hit by a wave of nostalgia when he faced his former club while on the sidelines. The Spanish midfielder, who spent half of his career at Arsenal, was on the touchline when his side, Como, faced Arsenal. The former midfielder has done an impressive job since becoming the Serie A coach and will be looking to deliver such brilliant results next season.
4. Arsenal defensive issues continue
Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities have persisted in the pre-season. The club has been poor with their defensive structure, and in every game their opposition have had barely a hard time scoring goals against them. Despite taking the lead in the game, they once again failed to hold on as Como found an equaliser.
This will be a major concern going into the campaign, as Mikel Arteta will need to address and find a solution to their defensive frailty as they will be looking to defend the title when the season commences.
3. Inept in front of goal
Arsenal controlled the early flow and had enough first-half opportunities to be ahead by three or four goals, but they lacked clinical finishing. The Gunners squandered opportunities to increase their lead before Como responded. When Como tied the score before halftime, they were punished for missing those chances, which was frustrating.
2. Cesc Fabregas’ side put in a brilliant performance
The Gunners were unquestionably superior in the first half, but Como fought hard against Arsenal in their preseason friendly. Martin Baturina’s “sublime” and “incredible” solo goal to equalise after Myles Lewis-Skelly had opened the score for Arsenal was the game’s high point.
1. Poor pre-season for Arsenal
Before the Community Shield, Arsenal’s 2026 pre-season results were a little disappointing and worrisome. They started the season with a convincing victory but then suffered careless defensive losses that alarmed supporters.
They gave up soft goals and appeared remarkably exposed at the back, with players caught out of position. Long-range goals conceded and careless errors in build-up play.
Who scored for Arsenal against Como?
Myles Lewis-Skelly scored for the Gunners against Como.
What happened in the match?
The game ended with a 1-1 draw.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.