Bukayo Saka Shines As Arsenal Edge Out AC Milan 1-0 In Pre-Season Friendly

Last Updated:July 23, 2025, 20:57 IST

Arsenal started their Asia tour with a 1-0 victory over AC Milan in Singapore, with Bukayo Saka scoring. Young talents impressed, and new signings debuted.

Saka was the sole goal-scorer as Arsenal took away the gritty win against AC Milan in Singapore (X)

Arsenal kicked off their pre-season tour of Asia with a promising performance, securing a 1-0 win over AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore, thanks to a second-half goal from Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners looked sharp and confident throughout the match, dominating possession and registering 23 shots compared to just three from the Italian side.

Saka was the standout performer, capitalizing on a low cross from Jakub Kiwior in the 53rd minute. Ghosting into space at the back post, the England international scuffed his finish slightly—but still managed to guide the ball into the bottom-left corner, breaking the deadlock.

Young Talent Impresses in Friendly Showcase

As the game wore on, Mikel Arteta introduced a number of young players, giving fans a glimpse of Arsenal’s next generation. One name that drew particular attention was 16-year-old Max Dowman. The highly-rated prospect impressed with his technical ability, pace, and confidence in one-on-one situations.

Elsewhere, Riccardo Calafiori, Ethan Nwaneri, and new signing Mikel Merino all came close to doubling Arsenal’s lead. On the other end, Rafael Leão provided Milan’s most threatening moment, reminding the crowd of his attacking quality.

The match also saw debut appearances for a few summer signings. For Arsenal, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard made their first outings in red and white, slotting comfortably into Arteta’s system. AC Milan handed a debut to Italian midfielder Samuele Ricci, who showed flashes of promise.

Although Arsenal won the match in regulation time, the friendly included a post-match penalty shootout—typical of pre-season tournaments to give players extra practice. The shootout itself was far from clinical, with both sides missing several spot-kicks.

Ultimately, Milan edged out Arsenal 6-5 in the shootout. Despite the result, Arsenal’s new goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga impressed, making three solid saves and showing early signs of settling into his new role.

Next Up: Premier League Opposition Await

Looking ahead, Arsenal will face Newcastle United in their next pre-season fixture as they continue their preparations for the 2025–26 campaign. Milan, meanwhile, will take on Liverpool in their next friendly against Premier League opposition.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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