SINGAPORE – Arsenal began their Asia Tour with a hard-earned 1–0 win over AC Milan at the Singapore National Stadium, thanks to a composed finish from Bukayo Saka in the second half. The match not only marked our return to Singapore since 2018, but also offered fans a first look at several exciting new additions in red and white.
⚡ A Confident Start in Familiar Territory
Arsenal kicked off the evening under the echoing chant of The Angel, with thousands of Gooners creating a thunderous atmosphere. From the first whistle, Mikel Arteta’s men looked sharp and eager, dominating possession and controlling the tempo of the game.
Bukayo Saka looked especially dangerous on the right flank, linking seamlessly with Ben White, while young prodigy Ethan Nwaneri came close early on with a clever turn and a stinging left-footed shot, only to be denied by Milan keeper Pietro Terracciano.
Despite the Gunners’ control, the breakthrough eluded them in the first half. Milan’s best effort came via Alexis Saelemaekers, who blazed over from range. Arsenal came closest when Riccardo Calafiori’s looping header was cleared off the line in stoppage time, followed by White’s rebound being blocked.
⚽ Saka Strikes to Break the Deadlock
The second half saw the introduction of more summer signings, with Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga replacing Christian Nørgaard and David Raya. But it was defender Jakub Kiwior who made the difference with a pinpoint cross to the far post.
Saka made no mistake, cushioning the delivery into the ground with his left foot to slot past the keeper and hand Arsenal a deserved lead in the 57th minute.
🌟 Youthful Energy and Debut Moments
Later in the half, Arteta handed debuts to 15-year-olds Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, showcasing the depth of Arsenal’s youth development. Dowman made an immediate impression, with a confident run and a one-two exchange with Martin Ødegaard that nearly doubled the lead.
Though Arsenal continued to dominate proceedings and carve out chances — with efforts from Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino, and Reiss Nelson forcing top saves — the scoreline remained 1–0 as the final whistle blew.
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🎯 Penalty Shootout Drama
Post-match, the teams engaged in a penalty shootout to add entertainment for the crowd. Despite some heroics from Kepa, who saved three spot-kicks to his left, Arsenal were edged out 6–5 in sudden death.
Notable scorers for the Gunners included Zubimendi, Merino, Dowman, Trossard, and Josh Nichols, but Marli Salmon’s miss proved decisive as Milan converted their final penalty to seal the shootout.
✅ Final Thoughts
While the official result was a 1–0 win for Arsenal in regulation time, the evening was a showcase of squad depth, exciting youth talent, and encouraging signs from the new signings. Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the performance, especially with preseason still in its early days.
With the Gunners set to face New-Castle next, the tour continues to build anticipation for what promises to be a defining campaign for Arsenal in 2025.
