Arsenal beat Como on penalties after a 1-1 draw

Arsenal defeated Como on penalties after their match ended 1-1 in regular time. Myles Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring for Arsenal during the first half. Martin Baturina equalised before the interval and left the sides level.

David Raya later saved Álvaro Morata’s penalty during the shootout. Arsenal converted the final decisive attempt and won the shootout 4-3. The result followed an even match in which both clubs used several players.

Lewis-Skelly gave Arsenal the lead

Arsenal moved ahead through Lewis-Skelly after thirty-three minutes. The young midfielder arrived in a useful position and completed the chance. His goal rewarded Arsenal during a first half with few clear openings.

Lewis-Skelly’s involvement added another senior contribution to his growing record. Arsenal have trusted him in midfield and defensive positions across recent seasons. The goal showed his willingness to move forward when space appeared.

Baturina answered before half-time

Como equalised through Baturina ten minutes after Arsenal’s opening goal. The Croatian midfielder completed the move before either team reached the interval. His finish prevented Arsenal from protecting a lead through the second half.

Como’s response came quickly enough to keep the match balanced. The Italian side did not allow the earlier goal to change its approach completely. The equaliser also gave both coaches freedom to make changes without chasing the score.

The second half brought changes but no winner

Both teams changed personnel as the match continued. Fresh players entered different areas while established starters completed their planned minutes. The substitutions altered combinations without producing another goal.

Arsenal created openings but could not find a second successful finish.

Como also carried a threat when possession moved into Arsenal’s half. The match therefore reached full time with the same score established before the break.

Raya delivered the important save

The penalty shootout placed each attempt under direct pressure. Raya stopped Morata’s kick and gave Arsenal the advantage it needed. The goalkeeper read the attempt and reached the ball with a strong dive.

A single save can decide a short shootout when the other takers convert. Arsenal still needed to score its remaining penalties after Raya’s intervention. The team completed that work and avoided returning the advantage to Como.

The shootout ended four to three

Arsenal secured the shootout by a 4-3 score after the final successful kick. The result was recorded separately from the 1-1 draw in regular time. Both parts of the match therefore describe different elements of the evening.

The draw showed that Como could remain competitive through normal play. The shootout gave Arsenal the victory and a positive end to the fixture. Raya’s save became the clearest difference between the teams.

The match offered useful senior minutes

Pre-season and early-season fixtures often require careful control of player workloads. Arsenal used the match to give minutes across its squad. Como followed a similar approach while testing combinations against strong opposition.

The result mattered, but fitness and coordination also carried value. Players needed to respond to real pressure instead of completing another training exercise. The shootout added a competitive finish after the regular-time draw.

Two first-half goals shaped the entire contest

Lewis-Skelly and Baturina provided the only goals during normal play. Their finishes arrived within ten minutes and changed the match twice. Neither team then found another clean route through the opposing defence.

Raya finally separated the teams during the penalties. Arsenal left with a shootout victory, while Como had matched them through ninety minutes. The evening offered both coaches useful information before their next competitive matches.

What the match revealed before the shootout

Arsenal’s opening goal came from a young player already trusted with senior responsibilities. Lewis-Skelly recognised space beyond his usual starting position. His finish rewarded movement rather than a long period of pressure. Como’s reply showed that the Italian side could react without losing its structure. Baturina found the equaliser before Arsenal could settle around the lead. That timing kept the second half open for both teams. Regular substitutions reduced continuity but increased the number of players tested. New partnerships had to solve situations without a full week of shared preparation. The lack of another goal reflected those changing combinations.

Raya’s save required a different skill from his work during normal play. Penalty decisions happen quickly and depend on preparation, observation and commitment. Reaching Morata’s attempt gave Arsenal a concrete advantage. Arsenal still needed accurate penalties after the goalkeeper’s intervention. A saved kick has no value if the next taker returns the advantage. The remaining players completed their attempts under increasing pressure. Como leaves the match with a draw across regular time and a competitive performance. Arsenal receives the recorded shootout victory and a useful test for its squad. Both conclusions can be true without changing the official result.