Arsenal's 2025/26 Premier League triumph was built on their outstanding defence, but they have struggled to maintain those standards in pre-season.
Mikel Arteta's side face a Como side managed by former Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas in Wednesday's friendly at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal started the preparation for their Premier League title defence with a 4-1 win over Girona, a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis and a 3-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup on Sunday.
Arteta is set to be without Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino, who have all been given extra time off to recover from their World Cup exertions.
Fabregas has done a fine job at Como, who qualified for this season's UEFA Champions League thanks to their fourth-placed finish in Serie A.
Arsenal v Como Tips Summary
Best Bet - Over 3.5 goals @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Christos Tzolis first goalscorer @ 6/1
Bet Builder - Half-time draw, Both teams to score & Ethan Nwaneri to score anytime @ 11/1
Arsenal v Como Prediction
Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals @ 1/1
Over 3.5 goals has been a winning bet in Arsenal's first three pre-season friendlies and Wednesday's clash with Como should be another entertaining contest.
The Gunners beat Girona 4-1 in their first game since losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in last season's UEFA Champions League final.
However, the Premier League champions were brought down to earth by a 3-1 defeat to Betis and their defence was again exposed by Dortmund in the Emirates Cup on Sunday.
Arsenal lost 3-2 to BVB and they are missing injured defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber for the game against Como.
Midfielder Bruno Guimaraes could make his first appearance since signing from Newcastle United and forwards Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres have looked sharp in pre-season games.
Only champions Inter Milan scored more Serie A goals than Como's 65 last season and Fabregas' men play an intense, proactive brand of football.
They should cause problems for a depleted home defence, but Arteta is likely to name a strong line-up as his side prepare to face Manchester City in Sunday's Community Shield.
Alternative Bet: Christos Tzolis first goalscorer @ 6/1
Despite winning the Premier League, Arsenal needed to enhance their attacking unit and Greek winger Christos Tzolis has made a bright start to his career in north London.
Tzolis scored in the first half of the win over Girona and set up Piero Hincapie's goal against Betis. He claimed another assist against Dortmund, teeing up Ethan Nwaneri, before winning a penalty which was converted by Gyokeres.
Tzolis' performances for Club Brugge had caught the eye of Arsenal's recruitment team.
He netted 33 goals in two seasons in the Belgian top- flight, also notching twice in last term's UEFA Champions League.
The Greece international struck three times in six World Cup qualifying appearances and looks a good bet to open the scoring against Como.
Arsenal v Como Bet Builder Tip
Half-time draw
Both teams to score
Ethan Nwaneri to score anytime
Pays 11/1
Arsenal trailed 3-1 and 2-0 at half-time in their last two friendlies, but they should make a more solid start on Wednesday.
The half-time draw was a winning bet in three of Como's last four Serie A matches.
Both teams to score has landed in all three of the Gunners' pre-season games, while Como's first four friendlies produced 3-1 and 3-2 wins and 2-2 and 1-1 draws.
Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri scored in Sunday's defeat to Dortmund and he has racked up 12 goals from just 26 starts during his senior career.
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Key Match Stats
Arsenal opened the scoring in their final eight matches of last season
Five of Arsenal's last seven wins in all competitions were by a 1-0 margin
The Gunners' first three pre-season friendlies all featured over 3.5 goals
Both teams scored in only one of Como's last five competitive games
Como scored at least once in each of their last five losses
Only Serie A champions Inter Milan suffered fewer defeats than Como's seven last season
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
