Did Arsenal just reveal their Community Shield midfield?
Martin Ødegaard in action during Arsenal’s pre-season friendly against Como at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s final pre-season game may have offered something far more significant than another 90 minutes in the legs.
With Manchester City waiting in Sunday’s Community Shield, Mikel Arteta used the second half of the 1-1 draw with Como to experiment with a midfield combination Arsenal supporters could soon become very familiar with.
Bruno Guimarães entered for his first Arsenal appearance following his £75million move and found himself operating alongside Martin Ødegaard and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
It was only a friendly. Bruno Guimarães had barely trained with his new teammates and Lewis-Skelly’s own future has unexpectedly become the subject of speculation.
Yet there was enough there to make you wonder.
Was this simply Arteta experimenting before the competitive season begins, or did Arsenal just provide an early glimpse of the midfield that could face Manchester City at the Principality Stadium?
Arsenal ultimately drew 1-1 before winning the pre-arranged penalty shootout 4-3, with Lewis-Skelly scoring their goal.
Bruno immediately changes the picture
It did not take long for Guimarães' influence to become apparent.
The Brazilian was generally the deepest member of the midfield three, but describing him purely as Arsenal’s number six would undersell what Arteta appeared to be testing.
Positions became increasingly fluid around him.
Lewis-Skelly could receive higher up the pitch, Ødegaard was able to drift towards spaces where he could influence possession and Bruno Guimarães offered Arsenal another player capable of receiving under pressure before immediately looking forward.
That caught supporters’ attention.
Tactical account EBL described it as a “largely position-less midfield 3”, consisting of Bruno Guimarães, Lewis-Skelly and Ødegaard, even comparing its construction to the midfield model used by Paris Saint-Germain.
Another post from the same account highlighted perhaps the most exciting part of Bruno Guimarães' arrival, Arsenal may now be encouraged to play through the centre more frequently.
That is where his profile becomes particularly interesting.
Bruno Guimarães has never been a midfielder who simply moves possession from one side to another. He wants the ball, can receive it in difficult areas and, crucially, looks for ways of progressing play once he has it.
For an Arsenal side which can occasionally become predictable when circulating possession around an opposition block, that willingness to play through it could be invaluable.
Renowned supporter AFC James summed up the immediate reaction rather more simply.
“Bruno - MLS - Ødegaard. I like that.”
Plenty seemingly agreed. The post had attracted more than 3M likes by Wednesday evening.
Lewis-Skelly offers Arteta something different
Perhaps the more revealing selection was the player alongside him.
Lewis-Skelly’s emergence into Arsenal’s first team initially came at left-back, but midfield has always been part of his footballing education.
Against Como, Arteta gave him another opportunity there.
It worked.
His ability to carry possession, receive in tight spaces and move between midfield and attacking areas complemented Bruno Guimarães willingness to dictate from deeper positions.
Lewis-Skelly also provided Arsenal’s goal, capitalising on an error before finishing in front of the home support.
Supporters immediately began looking towards Sunday.
“I guess that’s the Community Shield and Coventry midfield,” wrote one fan after seeing the trio together.
Another suggested Bruno Guimarães, Lewis-Skelly and Ødegaard should remain the midfield until Declan Rice returns, while others argued Rice should come straight into the side alongside Arsenal’s new signing.
That debate is precisely what makes the experiment interesting.
Rice remains fundamental to Arsenal, while Martin Zubimendi provides another outstanding option at the base of midfield.
Arteta is no longer searching for one fixed combination.
He is building several.
Against City, however, the mobility of Lewis-Skelly alongside Bruno Guimarães and Ødegaard could provide Arsenal with an intriguing solution.
A celebration with added meaning
Lewis-Skelly’s evening also arrived against a rather unusual backdrop.
Reports attributed to Ben Jacobs claimed that the 19-year-old had been offered to Manchester United and Chelsea, with Arsenal potentially open to a sale following Bruno Guimarães arrival.
That account was subsequently complicated by further reporting.
The Athletic reported that Lewis-Skelly wants to remain at Arsenal, is focused on establishing himself in Arteta’s side and is not exploring a move away. Arsenal’s position has also been that the club did not offer the player elsewhere.
Suddenly, every interaction between Lewis-Skelly and the Emirates crowd carried a little more meaning.
After scoring, he made a heart gesture towards the supporters and showed his affection for Arsenal amid the noise surrounding his future.
Some supporters interpreted the celebration as an apology. Others viewed it simply as a show of love towards the club.
Without Lewis-Skelly explaining it himself, anything beyond that remains interpretation.
But the reception he received and his response to it hardly looked like that of a player desperate to leave Arsenal. Reports following the game similarly interpreted his celebration as a demonstration of commitment to the club.
Arteta was inevitably asked about the speculation afterwards.
Rather than entertain it, the Arsenal manager described Lewis-Skelly as an emotional player and argued that speculation around his squad could be viewed positively because it showed Arsenal’s players were attracting attention.
For now, Lewis-Skelly remains an Arsenal player.
Against Como, Arteta also reminded everyone why his versatility could make him an extremely valuable one.
A glimpse of what comes next?
Nobody should draw definitive conclusions from 45 minutes of a pre-season friendly.
Bruno Guimarães has only just arrived.
Rice and Zubimendi will have significant roles to play, while the demands of facing Manchester City are considerably different to those presented by Como.
But pre-season is where managers leave clues.
This felt like one.
Bruno Guimarães gave Arsenal progression from deep. Ødegaard provided the creative reference point. Lewis-Skelly supplied the athleticism and freedom to move between both.
Arteta will know that balance matters even more against City.
Still, Arsenal did not spend £75million on Bruno Guimarães merely to add another body to an already talented midfield. His arrival gives Arteta the opportunity to alter how his team progresses the ball and, potentially, who he places around him.
Sunday will provide the first competitive indication of what that means.
Rice could return. Zubimendi could start. Arteta could choose something entirely different.
But after Wednesday night, Bruno Guimarães, Lewis-Skelly and Ødegaard have become more than an idea on paper.
Arsenal have now seen it on the pitch.
And judging by the reaction, plenty of supporters would not mind seeing it again at the Principality Stadium.