Arsenal made a profitable begin to their preseason tour of Asia after Bukayo Saka’s 53rd-minute strike earned a 1-0 victory over AC Milan in Singapore.
Substitute Jakub Kiwior delivered a tremendous cross to the far submit the place Saka was available to bundle the ball dwelling on a sweltering evening when the temperature was nonetheless 30 levels Celsius at kick-off with excessive humidity regardless of the native night begin time.
In entrance of a crowd of twenty-two,813 on the Singapore Nationwide Stadium — which may maintain 55,000 — Christian Nørgaard was Arsenal’s solely summer time signing to make the beginning line-up but it surely was Ethan Nwaneri, set to signal a brand new four-year contract with an choice for a fifth, who shone brightest within the first half.
First, the 18-year-old beat Strahinja Pavlovic with a chic piece of talent earlier than moments later he collected a cross from Norgaard, turning away from Christian Pulisic earlier than unleashing a fierce 20-yard drive which Milan goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano pushed behind for a nook.
There was additionally some encouraging mixture play down Arsenal’s proper as Ben White and Bukayo Saka linked up recurrently but it surely was Riccardo Calafiori who went closest to opening the scoring on the stroke of half time as his header was cleared off the road by Pavlovic.
Arteta predictably rung the adjustments at half-time with two extra new signings — Martín Zubimendi and Kepa Arrzabalaga — launched alongside Martin Odegaard, Jakub Kiwior, Miles Lewis-Skelly and Leandro Trossard.
After Kiwior and Saka mixed to offer Arsenal the lead, Arteta took the chance to make additional alterations with the Gunners’ two 15-year-olds — Max Dowman and Marli Salmon — each making their senior debuts for the ultimate 25 minutes together with Josh Nichols and Mikel Merino.
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After threatening on the counter-attack through the opening interval, Milan pale as Arsenal exerted management. Merino virtually added a second with a 76th-minute header which Terracciano saved properly.
The sport was adopted by a pre-planned penalty shootout which Milan gained 6-5 on sudden demise regardless of Kepa saving three spot-kicks, from Malick Thiaw, Mattia Liberali and Noah Okafor.
Zubimendi, Merino, Dowman, Trossard and Josh Nichols all scored whereas Odegaard, Nelson, Kiwior and Salmon missed.
Arsenal subsequent face Newcastle in Singapore on Sunday whereas Milan play Liverpool in Hong Kong on Saturday.