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Italian media issue clear Arsenal verdict after Como draw as Cesc Fabregas gets message The scoreline in Arsenal's friendly with Cesc Fabregas' Como didn't tell the full story Arsenal gave Como a stark reality in their friendly at the Emirates Stadium, according to Italian media. Myles Lewis-Skelly gave the Gunners the lead before Martin Baturina levelled for Cesc Fabregas' side, whose qualification for the Champions League was one of the feel-good stories in European football last season. While the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Arsenal winning the penalty shootout, the Gunners were clearly the better side, a fact not lost on Italian media, which showed its respect for the Premier League champions while acknowledging the task facing Como as they prepare to enter the Champions League. Pointing out the Gunners were well short of full strength, Gazzetta said: "The Gunners' superiority key players like Declan Rice, was clear, especially in the first half hour, when Como found themselves on the ropes, forced to defend with a 5-4-1 formation suited to the occasion of a match against the team that won the last Premier League title and played in the Champions League final two months ago." "Arsenal were ahead of them, and it was important to understand what it means to play in a stadium packed with nearly 60,000 spectators (despite a friendly, an eclipse, and a heatwave) and how difficult the next level of Como's evolution is." The report highlighted the youth and inexperience in Mikel Arteta's side, saying: "Arsenal press, create, and rely on the talent and creativity of their star players, even when Max Dowman and not Bukayo Saka are on the right, even when the 19-year-old Lewis-Skelly is leading the team from the back." Gazzetta also pointed out that the Gunners "were far from their best form" and said the match gave Como a clear vision of "how difficult the next level of their evolution is." Meanwhile, Arteta was satisfied with the workout, his side's final friendly before the Community Shield against Manchester City in Cardiff. He said: "It was a really good test. "It was a bit tricky today because we play a final on Sunday [against Dortmund], so to manage the minutes of the players and not exposing too much after playing three days ago, it wasn't easy. "But we have managed to make a lot of changes, play some kids, but still perform at a really high level. I think what we generated in the game, probably the scoreline should have been different, and that's the part that, in my opinion, we have to improve, because otherwise I think there were a lot of positives to take from the game." FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page Official premium experiences at the Emirates are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.