Arsenal claimed a 1‑0 win over AC Milan in Singapore behind a Bukayo Saka goal. Discover where to watch, youth making debuts, tactical takeaways, and what this means ahead of the Premier League season.
🏟️ Arsenal vs Milan Friendly Context
- The friendly took place July 23, 2025 at Singapore’s National Stadium as part of Arsenal’s Asia tour, featuring matches against AC Milan and Newcastle United, then Tottenham in Hong Kong. This follows their North America dates and showcases their expanding international presence .
- It’s a high-profile club friendly pitting English champions hopefuls against Serie A giants part of the Club Friendlies wave to prepare squads and grow markets.
📺 Where & When to Watch
- Kick-off was 7:30 pm local (12:30 pm UK, early morning ET)—streamed live via Arsenal’s digital pass (£6.99 match, £14.99 full tour). UK viewers had options like talkSPORT’s coverage, while Asian fans saw it packed in Singapore.
⚽ Match Details
- Saka’s strike in the 53rd minute—assisted by Kiwior—secured a tight 1-0 victory . Arsenal balanced pressure with solid defending.
- A pre-agreed penalty shootout followed, with Milan triumphing 6‑5 after Kepa saved three but Arsenal missed more kicks .
- Attendance hit ~22,800—far short of capacity—leaving social media and local fans puzzled .
Our ninth penalty flies over the crossbar.
Arsenal – ❌✅✅❌❌✅✅✅❌
AC Milan – ✅❌✅❌❌✅✅✅— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 23, 2025
🌱 Spotlight on Youth: Max Dowman & Marli Salmon
- Max Dowman (15) and Marli Salmon (15) made senior debuts—Dowman impressed on the wing, nearly scoring, earning rave responses online .
- Perry Groves and others praised Dowman’s talent; many compared him to Saka and praised his dribbling .
- Arsenal’s academy continues its strong reputation, working a youth integration strategy into the first team.
🧩 Tactical Takeaways
- Line-up & changes: Arteta deployed a mix of senior players—Raya, White, Saliba, Rice, Saka—and rotated in mid-game with subs like Zubimendi, Nwaneri, Havertz .
- Pressure: Arsenal dominated midfield possession, but faced a cagey 0–0 for most of the first half. They needed Saka’s half-chance to unlock Milan.
- Debutants: Zubimendi and Kepa subbed on; Salvador impressed across roles. Defensively, the backline appeared solid, though match tempo was controlled carefully .
- Penalties: Despite winning regular time, Arsenal’s shootout poor date underscores room for improvement in high-pressure scenarios.
🤔 What This Means for Arsenal
- Confidence booster: Victory over European heavyweight shows readiness and tactical depth.
- Frontline concerns: The need for a prolific striker was underlined, especially amid ongoing interest in Gyökeres.
- Squad depth: Youth exposure and integration (Dowman, Salmon, Nichols) builds long-term resilience.
- Competitive context: With nine potential PL title rivals per Arteta, broad squad quality and battle readiness matters .
🔍 Stat & Performances at a Glance
| Player | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Bukayo Saka | Scored the winner; MOTM honors |
| Max Dowman | Cameo debut; dribbles impressed; converted penalty |
| Marli Salmon | Solid CB debut; penalty miss; confident display |
| Martin Zubimendi | Clean midfield cameo; debut crips passing |
| Kepa & Norgaard | Clean sheets / composed; Norgaard steady in build-up |
⏭️ Next Up & Tour Trajectory
- Arsenal shift to a friendly against Newcastle (July 27), then Tottenham in Hong Kong—fine-tuning for Premier League officially starting in August .
- Expect more rotation, continued youth integration, plus possible Gyökeres debut depending on paperwork timing .
🗂️ Historical Flashback: Arsenal vs Milan Rivalry
- The clubs share decades-long ties, from Champions League finals to 2010 Emirates Cup and Wembley ‘88 friendlies (Arsenal won the Makita International in ’88).
- This pre-season meeting renews that storied narrative in a global context.