**Pre-season football is rarely the place for sensible conclusions.**
One good performance can produce a future **Ballon d’Or** winner. One bad performance can apparently end a player’s **Arsenal** career before the season has even started.
After **Arsenal’s** final friendly of the summer against **Como**, supporters were certainly not short of either opinions or predictions.
**Mikel Arteta’s** side drew 1-1 at the **Emirates Stadium** before winning 4-3 on penalties, with **Myles Lewis-Skelly** scoring the Gunners’ only goal during normal time.
While **Bruno Guimarães’** first appearance naturally attracted attention, there was plenty happening elsewhere.
**Ethan Nwaneri’s** work without the ball was noticed, **Martin Ødegaard** continued an encouraging pre-season and 16-year-old **Marli Salmon** once again left supporters wondering quite how high his ceiling could eventually be.
And, naturally, **Arsenal** fans had some thoughts.
**Nwaneri at number nine?**
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Perhaps the most interesting discussion around **Nwaneri** had little to do with what Arsenal supporters already know he can do.
His technical ability has never really been the question. Instead, one supporter picked out his improvement away from the ball, writing: **“Guys aren’t talking about Nwaneri off the ball this pre season. Been top.”**
That feels particularly significant.
Breaking into **Arteta’s** side has never simply been about what a player can produce with the ball. **Nwaneri** developing the less glamorous parts of his game could therefore become increasingly important as he [**fights for a larger role.**](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/07/20/arsenal/1266166-how-hale-end-may-have-massive-role-to-play-in-arsenal-s-title-defence.html)
Other supporters, however, have apparently decided midfield is no longer ambitious enough.
One wrote: “We should try Nwaneri as a number 9.”
It is certainly one way of solving the striker debate.
Whether Arteta shares that particular vision remains to be seen, but the suggestion reflects the excitement around **Nwaneri’s** attacking profile. He can receive between the lines, carry the ball, finish and has increasingly looked comfortable arriving in dangerous areas.
A permanent move up front feels unlikely.
As an option within games, though, stranger things have happened.
**Ødegaard looks like himself again**
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Perhaps the least outrageous reaction of the night surrounded **Arsenal’s** captain.
One supporter described **Ødegaard’s** form as “one of the biggest positives of this preseason so far,” pointing towards his physical sharpness, chance creation, build-up play and ability to connect midfield with attack.
The conclusion was simple: “He’s back!”
It is difficult not to understand the excitement.
**Ødegaard** has looked increasingly sharp throughout **Arsenal’s** preparations and against **Como** there were more glimpses of the player who has so often dictated the rhythm of **Arteta’s** best sides.
After a difficult campaign by his own standards, seeing the Norwegian playing with freedom again may be one of the quieter but more important developments of **Arsenal’s** summer.
There is a long season ahead before anyone can definitively declare the old **Ødegaard** has returned.
The early signs, however, are encouraging.
**Arsenal fans are getting very excited about Salmon**
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Then we reach **Marli Salmon**.
And this is where restraint completely disappears.
The 16-year-old has been one of **Arsenal’s** most intriguing stories of pre-season, having been included with **Arteta’s** senior group during their summer preparations.
Another composed showing against **Como** only added to the excitement.
One supporter asked: “Do people even understand what they’re watching?”
They then described Salmon as “completely abnormal” for a centre-back of his age and suggested he is already approaching elite level before reaching anything close to his physical peak.
Then came the prediction.
“You’re looking at potential best CB itw level talent.”
No pressure, then.
Calling a 16-year-old a potential future best centre-back in the world after a collection of pre-season appearances is obviously getting slightly ahead of ourselves.
But the excitement behind it is understandable.
**Salmon** does not play like somebody who looks overwhelmed by senior football. His composure, positioning and willingness to compete physically against older opponents have repeatedly stood out this summer.
Nobody needs to decide what he will become yet.
For **Arsenal**, simply having another academy player capable of generating these conversations is exciting enough.
That is ultimately what pre-season is for.
Not definitive answers, but possibilities.
**Nwaneri** as a number nine? Maybe not just yet. There is certainly evidence for optimism surrounding **Ødegaard** back to being his best. **Salmon** becoming the best centre-back in the world; Perhaps give him a few years.
But with **Manchester City** waiting in the **Community Shield,** **Arsenal** supporters have already found plenty to get excited about.