Arsenal beat Como on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Emirates

Arsenal are not losing patience in the closing stages and continue to rely on possession as they look for spaces in Como’s defense. The Gunners are circulating the ball calmly, pushing their lines forward and keeping the Italian side deep, although they have yet to turn their dominance into a clear opportunity. Como remain organized and are waiting for a chance to break forward quickly on the counter.

The match is entering its final stages and, for now, there have been no major attacking developments. Arsenal continue to have a slight edge in possession but are unable to turn their control into clear chances, while Como remain organized and wait for an opportunity to break forward quickly. The tempo remains subdued, with both teams seemingly unwilling to take too many risks during this decisive period.

The match has not regained the intensity or tempo seen during some stages of the first half. Arsenal and Como have slowed down their play and appear to be taking fewer risks, prioritizing control and avoiding leaving spaces behind. Ball circulation has become more cautious, while chances around the penalty areas are increasingly rare. It seems both teams are managing their energy and avoiding unnecessary risks during the final stages of the friendly.

Como are trying to keep more possession during this stage of the match, looking to escape Arsenal’s pressure through more patient build-up play. The Italian side have managed to put together some longer spells of possession and push their lines forward, although they are still struggling to find depth and create danger near the opposition box. Arsenal, meanwhile, remain well organized and are waiting to regain possession before attacking with pace.

Arsenal came close to scoring again, making the most of their greater presence in the attacking half as they searched for a second goal. The Gunners managed to move forward with greater purpose and created an opportunity to finish, but once again lacked precision with the final touch. Como managed to contain the threat and preserve the draw in a match that remains finely balanced during the closing stages.

Arsenal continue to control possession and have enjoyed much of the ball, but they are unable to turn that dominance into dangerous opportunities. The Gunners circulate possession from side to side but are struggling to break through Como’s defensive structure in the final third. The Italian side are also unable to take control or find attacking depth, leaving the match with a relatively subdued tempo.

Arsenal have made several changes to refresh the team and give playing time to a large portion of their squad in the second half. Mikel Arteta is using the final stages of the friendly to assess different options, maintain his players’ competitive rhythm and manage their workload ahead of the official season. The substitutions also provide an opportunity to see how the new additions perform in a demanding match against Como.

The match has entered a quieter phase, with a slower tempo and fewer dangerous actions around either penalty area. Arsenal continue to have a slight advantage and are moving the ball around in search of spaces, but Como have improved their defensive shape and are closing the routes toward goal. The Italian side remain alert for any opportunity to win possession and launch a quick counterattack. For now, the score remains level with no further clear chances.

Arsenal came close to taking the lead again with another dangerous attacking move. Martin Ødegaard received the ball in a promising position and tried his luck with a well-intentioned shot, but Como’s goalkeeper remained alert and managed to hold the effort securely. The Gunners continue to increase the pressure early in the second half, while the Italian side are trying to withstand the pressure and preserve the draw.

Arsenal have started the second half with greater intensity, looking to increase the tempo of their passing and find more depth in the final third. The Gunners are trying to push back into Como’s territory and create chances to regain the lead. The Italian side, meanwhile, continue to rely on quick transitions, waiting to win possession and exploit the spaces Arsenal may leave behind when pushing forward.

Arsenal are maintaining their attacking intensity and depth in the closing minutes of the first half. Mikel Arteta’s side continue to press, move the ball quickly and look for a second goal before the break. Como, meanwhile, are still struggling to find solutions against Arsenal’s dominance and have barely managed to approach the Gunners’ penalty area. The Italian side have failed to create any real danger and still have zero shots on target.

Como are trying to respond after Arsenal’s goal, but they are still struggling to gain control of the ball. The Italian side are unable to overcome the Gunners’ pressure or establish sustained possession that would allow them to approach the opposition box with danger. Arsenal continue to control the match and dictate the tempo, while Como need to find an alternative quickly if they are to change the momentum.

Arsenal remain committed to their initial approach, continuing to press Como’s build-up and looking to win the ball back quickly to gain greater control of the match. The Gunners are enjoying more possession and pushing play into the Italian side’s half, although they still lack precision in the final third. Como, meanwhile, are struggling to overcome the pressure and have been unable to develop their attacking transitions with any real clarity.

The match has entered a quieter phase and, after the early chances, neither side has produced another clear opportunity or a direct shot on target. Arsenal continue to have a slight edge and are pressing to win the ball back, while Como are looking for spaces to launch counterattacks. For now, both teams are lacking precision and attacking depth in the final third.

Como are trying to escape Arsenal’s pressure and take advantage of any available space to launch quick attacks, but they are struggling to find depth. The Italian side are having difficulty connecting their attacking lines effectively, with most of their moves breaking down before reaching the final third. Arsenal continue to control the game and are forcing Como into inaccurate passes, limiting their ability to create danger on the counterattack.

Arsenal found space again after winning possession and launched a quick counterattack that could have produced the opening goal. The Gunners moved forward at pace and managed to reach the edge of Como’s area, but they failed to make the right decision at the crucial moment to finish the move. The Italian defense recovered its shape in time and prevented the attack from becoming an even clearer scoring opportunity.

Como are struggling to build their game, as they have been unable to string together at least three consecutive passes with any real comfort. Arsenal are increasingly imposing themselves on the match, winning the ball back quickly and pushing play into the Italian side’s half. However, despite their territorial dominance and constant pressure, the English team have yet to find enough precision in the final third to turn their superiority into goals.

Arsenal are now the team controlling the game and have pushed Como deeper into their own half. Mikel Arteta’s side are applying intense pressure whenever the Italian team tries to build from the back, looking to win possession quickly and create more scoring opportunities. Como are trying to withstand Arsenal’s tempo and find spaces to escape the press, but the Gunners continue to control the territory and dictate the attacking play.

Arsenal’s high press forced a mistake in Como’s build-up, allowing the Gunners to win the ball back and create one of the clearest chances of the opening minutes. Gabriel Jesus collected possession in a dangerous position and fired a shot that struck the right post of the Italian side’s goal. Mikel Arteta’s team are beginning to impose their intensity and showing that they are also eager to find the opening goal.

Como have shown greater attacking intent during the opening minutes, looking to exploit spaces and create danger with through balls. One of those passes found its way into the Arsenal goalkeeper’s area, but he was well positioned and dealt with the situation confidently. The English side, meanwhile, are not holding anything back either and are looking to respond quickly and take control of the match.

Como were also highly effective away from home during the 2025/26 Serie A season. In 19 away matches, they recorded 10 wins, 5 draws and 4 defeats, collecting 35 points. They scored 30 goals and conceded 14, finishing with a +16 goal difference. Notable away victories included 2-0 against Genoa, 1-0 against Hellas Verona and 4-1 against Cremonese on the final matchday. Their excellent away record was a major factor in their historic fourth-place finish.

Arsenal enjoyed an outstanding home campaign in the 2025/26 Premier League. Across 19 matches at Emirates Stadium, the Gunners recorded 15 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, collecting 47 of a possible 57 points. They scored 41 goals and conceded 11, giving them a +30 goal difference. Their only home defeats were 2-3 against Manchester United and 1-2 against Bournemouth, while they drew 1-1 with Manchester City and 0-0 with Liverpool.

Como have also made significant additions ahead of their first Champions League campaign. Their main arrivals include Nico Paz, signed permanently from Real Madrid for around €60 million; Álvaro Morata, from Milan for €12 million; Luis Milla, from Getafe for €6 million; Mattia Liberali, from Catanzaro for €6 million; and Andrés Cuenca, from Barcelona for around €500,000. They have also added Kaiki on loan from Cruzeiro.

Arsenal have strengthened several areas of their squad for 2026/27. Their main arrivals include Bruno Guimarães, signed from Newcastle United in a deal worth around €87 million; Christos Tzolis, who arrived from Club Brugge for approximately €34 million; Piero Hincapié, whose permanent transfer was completed after his loan spell; and Illan Meslier, who joined as a free agent following the expiration of his Leeds United contract.

Cesc Fàbregas arrives at the Emirates with Como after a historic season that saw the club finish fourth in Serie A and qualify for the Champions League for the first time. Although no specific pre-match press conference with direct Fàbregas quotes has been located, Como described the fixture as an important opportunity to face one of Europe’s strongest teams: “an excellent opportunity to test themselves” before their historic European campaign.

Mikel Arteta approaches the final friendly looking to make the most of the available minutes before the Community Shield. Following defeats against Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund, the manager has stressed the need to continue working with a squad that is still taking shape after the World Cup. Regarding the team’s preparation, Arteta highlighted their effort: “We have been working really hard for the last 10 days”, while acknowledging that the squad is still being built.

Como have also significantly reshaped their squad. Confirmed departures include Stefan Posch, who joined Mainz; Sergi Roberto, who moved to LA Galaxy as a free agent; Yan Couto, who joined Borussia Dortmund; Mergim Vojvoda, transferred to Udinese; and Yannick Engelhardt, who moved to Freiburg. Tommaso Cassandro joined Palermo, while Federico Chinetti and Fellipe Jack left on loan to Mantova and Cremonese respectively.

Arsenal have confirmed several departures during the summer transfer window. The main first-team exits include Karl Hein, who joined Werder Bremen; Jakub Kiwior, who moved to Porto; Christian Nørgaard, who joined Everton; and Leandro Trossard, who transferred to Besiktas. Josh Nichols has also left for Kustosija. These departures have created room within the squad while Arsenal have strengthened several areas with additions including Piero Hincapié, Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimarães.

Como’s five most recent results are: Famalicão 2-3 Como (July 31), Villarreal 1-1 Como (July 29, 45 minutes), Como 3-1 AlUla (July 29, 45 minutes), Como 2-2 Paris FC (July 24) and Cremonese 1-4 Como (May 24). Cesc Fàbregas’ side have recorded 3 wins and 2 draws across those five matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding 6, underlining their strong attacking output during the preparation period.