Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal opened their pre-season tour of Asia with a one-goal win over AC Milan on Wednesday afternoon. Bukayo Saka, so often Arsenal’s hero in the Premier League last season, was again central to this win, tapping home from Jakub Kiwior’s cross shortly after half-time to score what proved to be the winner. The Gunners struggled in front of goal throughout the tie, as just one of their 23 shots found the back of the net.
There were several debutants in the Arsenal squad, too, as Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi, and Kepa Arrizabalaga all made their Arsenal bows. So too did 15-year-old forward Max Dowman, who is expected to play a first-team role for Arsenal this season despite his meagre years. With his first touches of the ball, the youngster cut in off the right flank and flashed a shot just wide of the far post - an exciting sign of things to come for the Gunners.
A similarly impressive prospect starred for AC Milan, too. The 20-year-old goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani played just 24 minutes, but pulled out several key saves to keep Milan within one.
Arsenal vs AC Milan latest news
- GOAL! Saka opens the scoring
- Kick-off: 12.30pm BST | National Stadium
- How to watch: Arsenal.com and Arsenal app
- Arsenal XI: Norgaard debut, Gabriel out
- AC MIlan XI: Former Chelsea trio start
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 5-6 AC Milan
14:45 , Arthur FerridgeComotto steps up for Milan and sends Kepa the wrong way to win the shootout.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 5-5 AC Milan
14:44 , Arthur FerridgeSalmon launches his pen over the bar! Now Milan must score to win....
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 5-5 AC Milan
14:43 , Arthur FerridgeLovely effort from Dutu, who smashes his pen into the top-left corner.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 5-4 AC Milan
14:42 , Arthur FerridgeThe youngster Josh Nichols scores coolly. Mature beyond his years.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 4-4 AC Milan
14:42 , Arthur FerridgeAnd the shootout continues! Terracciano (Not the goalkeeper) tucks his spot-kick away.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 4-3 AC Milan
14:41 , Arthur FerridgeA smart pen from Trossard sends Torriani the wrong way to put Arsenal back in front.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 3-3 AC Milan
14:40 , Arthur FerridgeA stuttering run-up from Bondo has Milan back on level terms.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 3-2 AC Milan
14:39 , Arthur FerridgeMax Dowman sends Torriani the wrong way to put Arsenal ahead in sudden death. Cool as you like from the 15-year-old.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 2-2 AC Milan
14:39 , Arthur FerridgeKepa makes yet ANOTHER save! He denies Okafor low to his left to take us to sudden death!
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 2-2 AC Milan
14:38 , Arthur FerridgeA third save from Torriani! He keeps out Kiwior.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 2-2 AC Milan
14:37 , Arthur FerridgeAnother brilliant save from Kepa to keep Arsenal in it!
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 2-2 AC Milan
14:37 , Arthur FerridgeReiss Nelson is denied by Torriani. Another remarkable save from the 20-year-old.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 2-2 AC Milan
14:36 , Arthur FerridgeChukwueze had a quiet outing in normal time, but gives himself a reason to remember the day with a cool spot kick. Even stevens.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 2-1 AC Milan
14:35 , Arthur FerridgeMikel Merino stutters and wrongfoots Torriani to score.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 1-1 AC Milan
14:35 , Arthur FerridgeKepa makes a fantastic save to pull Arsenal back level!
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 1-1 AC Milan
14:34 , Arthur FerridgeMartin Zubimendi steps up and caps a solid debut with a goal, sending Torriani the wrong way.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 0-1 AC Milan
14:33 , Arthur FerridgeGabbia laces it down the middle to put Milan ahead.
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
14:32 , Arthur FerridgeTorriani continues his stellar performance and saves down to his right to keep Odegaard out!
SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
14:32 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal elect to shoot first, and Odegaard will do the honours.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:28 , Arthur FerridgeThat does it at the National Stadium in Singapore! A winning start to the 2025-26 campaign for Arsenal, all thanks to Bukayo Saka’s goal early in the second half.
Don’t go anywhere, though. It is penalty shootout time!
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:27 , Arthur Ferridge90+3mins: Trossard attempts to lob Torriani, but the keeper is wise to his effort and collects with ease.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:26 , Arthur Ferridge90+1mins: Odegaard threads a fantastic ball into Trossard, but he is dispossessed brilliantly by Dutu. The Belgian appeals for a penalty but his complaint is waved off.
They come back immediately and Nelson looses a snap shot, but Torriani, who is having a great night, gets down to it.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:24 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Milan hoof one up for Chukwueze to run onto, but he leaves too early and is flagged offside.
Reminder that we will have a novelty penalty shootout following this match regardless of the result, so stay tuned for that.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:21 , Arthur Ferridge86mins: Odegaard finds himself unmarked in the box and has a go from too tight an angle, but demands another save of Torriani. The corner finds Nelson, who bends one from range and sees his effort deflected wide off the head of Dutu. The referee disagrees, however, and gives a goal kick.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:17 , Arthur Ferridge83mins: Trossard lashes one from 25 yards and forces a strong stop from Torriani. Another corner for Arsenal is then confounded.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:16 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Odegaard’s corner and follow-up cross both come to nought. Looking at the amount of possession and chances they have had in this second half, Arsenal will be frustrated not to come away with a second goal.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:14 , Arthur Ferridge80mins: Reiss Nelson, immediately after his introduction, gets in behind and looks to square to Zubimendi, but his cross is cut out and Milan clear their lines.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:13 , Arthur Ferridge79mins: Reiss Nelson replaces Kai Havertz.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:11 , Arthur Ferridge77mins: Leao trips Zubimendi, a foul is given, and the Portuguese boots the ball away out of frustration. He looks to have got away without a booking, though.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:10 , Arthur Ferridge76mins: Merino heads Odegaard’s corner at goal and forces a brilliant save from Torriani! No let off for Milan, though, as Arsenal collect the clearance and come back for more.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:09 , Arthur Ferridge75mins: Havertz loops a back-post cross to Merino, and again Milan nod it behind for a corner. Arsenal must be closing in on a second.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:07 , Arthur Ferridge73mins: Dowman breaks to the byline and looks to square Havertz’s pass, but it is cleared away by Pavlovic.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:06 , Arthur Ferridge73mins: Bartesaghi finds Leao in the area, but the Portuguese can’t quite get the ball out of his feet. Zubimendi tracks back to clear the danger for Arsenal.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:04 , Arthur Ferridge70mins: Dowman is tripped by Comotto as he dribbles at goal. He has looked remarkably composed since coming on. The free-kick is taken quickly, but the cross is collected by new Milan keeper Torriani.
Simon Collings reports
14:02 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal bringing on two 15-year-olds. Both of them born three years after the Emirates was opened. Feel old now?
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:02 , Arthur Ferridge68mins: Max Dowman, extremely highly rated in Arsenal circles, cuts in off the right and lets one fly. Not a bad effort from the 15-year-old.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
14:01 , Arthur Ferridge66mins: Milan trade goalkeepers, replacing Terracciano with the 20-year-old Lorenzo Torriani. Comotto and Bondo come on for Ricci and Loftus-Cheek.
For Arsenal, four changes: Nichols, Merino, Salmon, and Dowman replace Saliba, Rice, White, and Saka.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
13:58 , Arthur Ferridge64mins: Odegaard shoots, and his effort rattles the head of someone in the wall. Arsenal recycle, but Milan deal with White’s cross well enough. Arsenal recover possession and Lewis-Skelly finds Odegaard again, but the Norwegian’s tight-angle effort hits the side netting to end the attack.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
13:57 , Arthur Ferridge63mins: Saka is taken down by Yunus Musah to hand Arsenal a free-kick in a dangerous area. The American left a foot in as Saka skipped past him.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
13:55 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: Four more substitutes are being prepared for Arsenal, with Mikel Merino among them.
Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
13:51 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: The Gunners are pushing for a second! Saka turns provider and lofts one to Havertz, but he can’t quite get it under the bar under heavy pressure. A corner is given, however.
Simon Collings reports
13:48 , Arthur FerridgeA noticeable shift in Arsenal's tempo since the break and it is rewarded. What a ball that is by Kiwior, too. Saka couldn't miss.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
13:48 , Arthur Ferridge53mins: Who else but him? Saka opens Arsenal’s account for the 2025-26 campaign! Kiwior delivers a lovely cross into the area, and Saka does well to finish the bobbling ball from close range.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:46 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Odegaard clips one in to Havertz, but the German lets it run and Terracciano collects.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:45 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Terracciano punches the corner away.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:44 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Loftus-Cheek breaks down the right but takes one touch too many and is dispossessed by the backtracking Saliba. Arsenal counter and win a corner through Saka.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:43 , Arthur Ferridge49mins: Leao breaks on his own but is caught up almost immediately by some six Arsenal defenders.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:42 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: Confirmation of the Arsenal changes:
Coming on are Kepa, Trossard, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Zubimendi, and Kiwior.
Replaced are Raya, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Nwaneri, Norgaard, and Martinelli.
Milan add Chukwueze, Gabbia, and Okafor in place of Saelemaekers, Tomori, and Pulisic.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:40 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: This is a midfield combination Arsenal fans have been waiting to see for weeks, if not months: Rice, Odegaard, and Zubimendi line up across the centre of the park.
2ND HALF: Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:39 , Arthur FerridgeMikel Arteta will ring the changes here! On come Lewis Skelly, Trossard, Kiwior, Odegaard, and, most importantly, the debutants Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi.
AC Milan will rotate too, with Chukwueze on for Saelemakers.
Simon Collings reports
13:29 , Arthur FerridgeNot a thriller, but rather a pretty standard first half for a pre-season friendly. Some positives for Arsenal, though, most notably that link-up between White and Saka.
HT: Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:21 , Arthur FerridgeThat does it for the opening 45 minutes in Singapore, and still we are goalless. Arsenal have had the better of the play, but resolute defending from Milan has seen them go frustrated thus far.
Time for Mikel Arteta to test some substitutes, perhaps?
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:20 , Arthur Ferridge45+2mins: Saka takes the corner short and gets it back. He chips a cross to Calafiori, whose shot is well saved by Terracciano, before White’s rebound is blocked.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:18 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: Two added minutes will end the first half, as Martinelli sees another blocked shot go behind for a corner.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:17 , Arthur Ferridge44mins: A cynical foul from Saelemaekers on Havertz halts Arsenal’s latest foray forward.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:15 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Martinelli does wonderfully to get the better of Saelemaekers high on the left flank, nutmegging the backpedalling Belgian as he breaks into the box. He has Havertz waiting in the middle, but doesn’t quite have the space to get a pass off.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:14 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: Pulisic beats White and pulls one back for Saelemaekers, but the Belgian’s shot is wide. That is the closest Milan have come.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:12 , Arthur Ferridge40mins: Leao does brilliantly to find Pulisic in the box, but the American cannot capitalise. Calafiori ushers the ball out for a Milan corner, which is coolly cleared by the Gunners.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:12 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: Saka tackles Bartesaghi out of play. No nonsense defending from the winger.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:10 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: There is a very clear flow of play from the central areas, to White, to Saka. The winger gets on the ball again down the left and dribbles back to the centre before his one-two with Norgaard is cut out. Milan come back, playing out of their half for the first time in a little while.
Simon Collings reports
13:09 , Arthur FerridgeNwaneri looking very sharp, so far. He seems to be revelling in that right No8 role, linking up with Saka and White.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:09 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: Milan have 11 behind the ball, which tells you a lot about the flow of the match over the last ten minutes or so.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:07 , Arthur Ferridge35mins: Rice goes for a run as he looks to break away from Ricci, but is harried into touch.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:06 , Arthur Ferridge33mins: There will be a penalty shootout at full-time here, regardless of the final result.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:05 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: Close again for Arsenal! The Gunners flow forward through Saka, who feeds Havertz on the overlap. He pulls back to Rice on the penalty spot, but Fikayo Tomori makes himself big and blocks the shot. The ball pops up, but Terracciano gets to it to clear the threat, taking us to a first hydration break of the match.
That may have been the Gunners’ best chance of the game so far.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:03 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: Arsenal’s fourth corner of the day half bobbles into the area and is flicked on by Martinelli, but Milan clear. The Gunners come back and Saka shoots, but his effort is not caught too cleanly. Easy save for Terracciano.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:02 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Arsenal again find themselves in a threatening area, but can’t work a clear shooting chance. White finds Nwaneri at the corner of the 18-yard box and the teenager shoots, but can’t quite wrap his foot around it. He fires over.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
13:00 , Arthur Ferridge27mins: Musah dribbles back into his own penalty area under pressure from Nwaneri, but somehow Milan play out. Leao is through on goal, but Saliba tracks back to keep him just too wide and prevent a shot.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:59 , Arthur Ferridge26mins: Pulisic latches onto a long ball and looks to break at goal, but White tracks back apace to deny him any shooting opportunity. He wins the ball back before drawing a foul from the American.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:58 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: Leao is fouled as Milan look to play out from the back. Calafiori is the offender - again.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:56 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: Fantastic effort from Nwaneri! Norgaard feeds the youngster with his back to goal. He takes a touch to lose his marker, spins Pulisic, and smacks a shot on the half-volley, drawing a great save from Terracciano.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:55 , Arthur Ferridge22mins: White gets to the by-line and pulls a cross back, but again there is an AC Milan head there to deny Arsenal a shooting chance. The Gunners are knocking on the door, though.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:54 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Loftus-Cheek puts in a strong tackle on Martinelli and is penalised. Arsenal pour forward on the ball and it pinballs to White after Nwaneri’s run, but his shot is wayward.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:52 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Martinelli sticks a smart cross in, but there is nobody at the back post to put it away.
Simon Collings reports
12:50 , Arthur FerridgeThat connection and link-up between Saka and White appears to be back up and running. White looking sharp and much fitter with some pre-season training under his belt.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:50 , Arthur Ferridge17mins: Nwaneri spots Martinelli in space and hits a switch out wide, but doesn’t quite hit his target. Some pre-season rust evident, there.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:49 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: Saka sneaks in behind after White’s ball and shoots from a tight angle, but his shot is blocked away for a corner. Havertz shoots from range in the ensuing sequence, but Pavlovic drags his foot to deflect it away.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:48 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: Norgaard puts a great cross into the six-yard box for Martinelli, but Terracciano collects.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:46 , Arthur Ferridge14mins: Pulisic’s delivery leaves a little to be desired.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:46 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: Pulisic is not having much joy down the left flank at the moment - he cannot find a way past White.
Elsewhere, Milan win a corner through Salaemakers.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:45 , Arthur Ferridge12mins: Leao nutmegs Norgaard to trigger Milan’s latest attack, but Pulisic is dispossessed in the corner.
The Rossoneri hold onto possession from the throw, but Saka wins it high. He breaks, but his through-ball to Rice is cut out by Ricci.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:43 , Arthur Ferridge11mins: Milan come forward again and Saelamakers gets one in the mixer for Bartesaghi, but all he can do is knock it back across the box. Arsenal play out.
Simon Collings reports
12:42 , Arthur FerridgeA rare chance for Calafiori today, in the position that many in Italy think he should play for Arsenal. He had such rotten luck with injuries last season.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:42 , Arthur Ferridge9mins: Loftus-Cheek goes down on the ball after Calafiori tackles him from behind.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:40 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: Not a bad delivery from Rice’s corner, but Milan deal with the threat.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:40 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: Martinelli is tripped by Saelemakers high on the left flank. He goes down hard and looks to be in some discomfort, but will carry on after adjusting his shoelaces. Corner to the Gunners.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:39 , Arthur Ferridge6mins: Norgaard wins the ball high and finds Havertz, who looks to play Saka in behind, but Terraciano is quick off his line to prevent a shot. End to end stuff in Singapore!
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:38 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: Rice looses Arsenal’s first shot of the season, firing well over from the edge of the area.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:37 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Rice finds White in the right channel, who in turn finds Saka. He cannot find a way through the Milan block, though, and recycles to Norgaard.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:36 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Milan come forward for the first time and Leao shoots from the edge of the area, but Calafiori is there to block his effort.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:36 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: Calafiori seeing a lot of the ball in the opening stages. He is facing a big campaign after missing so much of last season through injury.
Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan
12:34 , Arthur Ferridge1min: Arsenal kick off and immediately default to a slow build-up. Norgaard is quick to take his first touches as a Gunner.
KICK-OFF!
12:31 , Arthur FerridgeA couple of minutes behind schedule, Arsenal vs AC Milan is underway!
Both sides are in their away strips today, the Londoners in dark blue and the Italians in white with red trim.
Here come the players
12:29 , Arthur FerridgeThe squads are out at the National Stadium. Kick-off is now imminent!
Right at home
12:29 , Arthur FerridgeSeems to be a sympathetic crowd for Arsenal in Singapore.
The home faithful, now singing ‘North London Forever’, have managed to get a couple of crowd-surfers out! Great effort.
Kick-off comes next
12:20 , Arthur FerridgeThe wait is nearly over. Just 10 minutes until Arsenal’s pre-season campaign gets underway!
Supporters ready for Gyokeres?
12:15 , Arthur FerridgeSome Arsenal fans in the stands seem keen for Viktor Gyokeres to join up...
Read the latest on that deal from Standard Sport HERE!
New surroundings
12:10 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal take in the scenery at the National Stadium.
Three former Chelsea stars to face Arsenal
12:05 , Arthur FerridgeMassimiliano Allegri has named three former Chelsea players in his starting XI to face Arsenal.
Cobham academy graduates Fikayo Tomoro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both get the nod, while USMNT star Christian Pulisic leads the line.
The American is winless in four career appearances against the Gunners, but scored against them in a 2-1 FA Cup final loss in 2020.
The same is true of Loftus-Cheek - he is also winless in four against Chelsea’s North London rivals.
Tomori, though, is one-for-one against Arsenal, playing 59 minutes in a 2-1 Premier League win at the Emirates in 2019.
AC Milan confirmed XI
11:54 , Arthur FerridgeThe Rosseneri name their starters.
Confirmed AC Milan XI: P. Terracciano; Pavlovic, Thiaw, Tomori, Musah, Ricci, Saelemaekers, Bartesaghi, Loftus-Cheek, Leao, Pulisic
Subs: Torriani, Okafor, Chukwueze, F. Terracciano, Colombo, Bondo, Gabbia, Pittarella, Comotto, Dutu, Magni, Liberali
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