Arsenal beat AC Milan in normal time but lose shoot-out in pre-season opener

Bukayo Saka celebrates with Martin Odegaard and Ben White after giving Arsenal the lead against AC Milan - Getty Images/Roslan Rahman

Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Arsenal’s pre-season tour began with a 1-0 victory over AC Milan in Singapore as Bukayo Saka made an encouraging start to the new campaign.

Saka’s second-half goal, converted at the back post, was enough to secure victory for an Arsenal team that featured new signings Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Mikel Arteta also handed first-team appearances to two 15-year-olds, with forward Max Dowman, a year from his GCSEs, and defender Marli Salmon both coming off the bench in the second half.

Both teams then played out a pre-arranged penalty shootout, which went to sudden death and was eventually won by Milan despite an impressive series of saves by Kepa.

02:49 PM BST

The thoughts post-match of Bukayo Saka

“Today was our first big test and we passed it. We won so we are happy. We are excited, we have some new signings. We are all quality players and we have the confidence we will have a big year. It [Singapore] is a beautiful country and the fans were amazing. We appreciate it.”

02:45 PM BST

AC Milan win shoot-out

Comotto sends Kepa the wrong way and that gives AC Milan victory in the shoot-out. They won it 6-5 on penalties after Arsenal won 1-0 over the 90 minutes of normal time.

02:44 PM BST

Salmon misses

He blazes over and AC Milan have the chance to win it.

02:44 PM BST

Dutu scores

5-5.

02:43 PM BST

Nichols scores

He steps and the shoot-out goes on. 5-4 Arsenal. The penalties have improved the more the pressure is on.

02:42 PM BST

F. Terracciano scores

He finds the net and its is 4-4.

02:41 PM BST

Trossard scores

A small stutter in the run-up but he finds the bottom left corner. 4-3 Arsenal.

02:40 PM BST

Bondo scores

All the pressure on him but he finds the net and on we go. 3-3.

02:40 PM BST

Dowman scores

He slots into the right corner and, as we are into sudden death, all the pressure is now onto AC Milan.

02:39 PM BST

Okafor misses

He has the chance to win it for AC Milan but Kepa makes the save to his left. Some good stops by the two keepers but these players should not be missing as many penalties as they are.

02:38 PM BST

Kiwior misses

Torriani makes his third save of this shoot-out, this time down to his left, and AC Milan have the chance to win it with their next penalty.

02:37 PM BST

Liberali misses

He hits it hard to the right but Kepa gets down well to his left to make the save. Still 2-2.

02:37 PM BST

Nelson misses

Another good save by Torriani to his right and denies Nelson. The advantage now back to AC Milan.

02:36 PM BST

Chukwueze scores

Kepa goes the wrong way and Chukwueze, looking very laid back, calmly slots home. 2-2.

02:35 PM BST

Merino scores

He stutters just before he takes and rolls into the bottom right corner. 2-1 Arsenal.

02:35 PM BST

Colombo misses

Kepa dives to his left and makes a good save to deny Colombo. Still 1-1 after two penalties each.

02:34 PM BST

Zubimendi scores

He slots into the bottom right corner and gets Arsenal going in this shoot-out. 1-1.

02:33 PM BST

Gabbia scores

He smashes into the back of the net down the middle, with Kepa going to his left. AC Milan go 1-0 up.

02:32 PM BST

Odegaard misses

Torriani guesses the right way, literally and metaphorically, and saves down to his right.

02:32 PM BST

Penalty shoot-out

Arsenal won the 90 minutes but AC Milan have at least a chance to claim penalty shoot-out success. Odegaard will take first...

02:32 PM BST

FT stats

Possession: Arsenal 57%-43% AC Milan

Shots: 23-3

Shots on target: 9-1

Corners: 14-2

02:27 PM BST

Full time

There is the final whistle and Arsenal win 1-0 thanks to Saka’s second-half goal. We will though have a penalty shoot-out even though Arsenal have won over the 90 minutes.

02:26 PM BST

90+2 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Nelson, on the left side of the box, cuts inside onto his right foot and tries to beat Torriani at his near post but the AC Milan keeper gets down to his left to make the save.

02:25 PM BST

90+1 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Odegaard slips a ball through to Trossard inside the AC Milan box. The Belgian takes one touch before then losing possession and the chance is gone for Arsenal.

02:24 PM BST

90 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

There will be three added minutes.

02:21 PM BST

86 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Odegaard is picked out at the back post and chests it down on the right side of the box. He thinks about trying to find a teammate but, with no real option available, he goes for the shot from a narrow angle that is parried behind for a corner. 

Arsenal take it short and work it around the edge of the box, where Nelson nearly curls one into the far corner but it goes just wide.

02:17 PM BST

82 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Trossard gets hold of one from range and Torriani has to tip over his bar. Trossard hit that one hard; it may well have just gone over the bar but Torriani could not take any risk there.

02:15 PM BST

80 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Arsenal have had 18 shots in this match, five on target, whilst AC Milan have had just two, with zero on target. But there is still just the one goal in it.

02:13 PM BST

79 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

After a water break, AC Milan make a number of changes whilst Nelson is on for Arsenal in place of Havertz.

02:09 PM BST

75 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Zubimendi lifts a ball into the box trying to pick out Trossard on the right side of the box but Pavlovic puts it behind for a corner. Arsenal work it short and eventually send a ball to the back post, where it is headed behind for another corner.

Odegaard sends in an outswinger, which is met by the head of Merino and well saved by Torriani diving to his left.

02:03 PM BST

69 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Leao drives forward through the centre for AC Milan and sends a shot towards goal from outside the box but Kepa is down to make the save.

02:00 PM BST

66 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

We have just gone past the hour mark and more changes are being made. Merino, Dowman, Salmon and Nichols are all on.

AC Milan also making changes, including Torriani replacing P. Terracciano in goal.

01:59 PM BST

65 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Odegaard has a shot from the right side of the box after AC Milan could not clear their lines inside the box but he drags his effort into the side netting.

01:58 PM BST

63 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Saka is brought down just outside the AC Milan box by Musah. Odegaard stands over the free-kick alongside Rice but the latter leaves it to the former. However Odegaard’s delivery is terrible and hits the wall.

01:52 PM BST

57 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Saka is afforded too much space down the right to send in a cross and picks out Havertz in the centre of the box. However the German’s header loops over the bar. The referee though points for a corner, much to the disappointment of the AC Milan players, who were convinced it was a goal kick. AC Milan deal with the corner anyway.

01:49 PM BST

54 mins: Arsenal 1 AC Milan 0

Okafor has also come on for AC Milan.

01:47 PM BST

GOAL! Saka gives Arsenal the lead

Just past the 50-minute mark and Arsenal are ahead in Singapore. Kiwior, from the left, picks out Saka at the back post and the latter makes no mistake, although the connection was pretty woeful as he hit the ball straight into the ground but it finds its way into the far corner. There were appeals for offside but Saka timed his run well and was onside as Kiwior sent the cross in.

Bukayo Saka was a threat throughout the first half and he’s now scored Arsenal’s first goal of pre-season. The arrival of Noni Madueke (who is not in Singapore due to his Club World Cup commitments with Chelsea) means there will be more competition on the wings this season, but let’s be honest about this. If Saka is fit, Saka will play.

Arsenal have the lead in Singapore - Roslan Rahman/Getty Images

01:46 PM BST

52 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Odegaard clips in a ball trying to pick out Havertz but the German cannot get on the end of it and it goes through to P. Terracciano.

01:45 PM BST

50 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Loftus-Cheek has acres of space to charge down the right wing and into the Arsenal box but he wastes the chance and Saliba gets across to deal with the danger. The former Chelsea midfielder should have done better there but his heavy touch allowed Saliba to come across and take possession.

01:43 PM BST

48 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Arsenal’s midfield at the start of this second half is Rice, Zubimendi and Odegaard, which could be well be their first-choice trio for the upcoming season and the three that start in their first game of the Premier League season at Manchester United next month.

The left side of the Arsenal team is different, with Lewis-Skelly on at left-back and Trossard onto the left wing. A change in goal as well.

01:39 PM BST

Second half

We are back under in Singapore. Mikel Arteta has made six changes at the break; Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Kiwior, Trossard and Kepa are all on. First appearances for Arsenal for Kepa and Zubimendi.

Chukwueze is on for AC Milan as is Gabbia.

01:28 PM BST

A reminder

Regardless of the score at the end of the 90 minutes today, a penalty shoot-out will take place.

01:25 PM BST

HT verdict

From Arsenal’s perspective, perhaps the most encouraging aspect of that first half was the performance of Ben White at right-back. He had an injury-disrupted season last year but looks sharp and fit today. With Jurren Timber recovering from ankle surgery, White has a chance to reclaim the starting role on the right side of the defence. 

01:20 PM BST

Half-time

That is it for the first half and it is goalless at the break.

01:20 PM BST

45+1 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Martinelli should have done better there. Havertz wins possession for Arsenal on halfway and feeds the ball onto Martinelli, who takes Arsenal into the AC Milan box. Havertz makes an overlapping run but Martinelli opts to shoot and his effort is blocked behind for a corner.

Arsenal take it short and eventually Saka sends in a cross, which results in Calafiori heading towards goal and it is saved.

01:18 PM BST

45 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

There will be two added minutes at the end of this first half.

01:14 PM BST

41 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Pulisic feeds the ball across from the left side of the box to Saelemaekers near the edge of the box, who takes on a shot first time but he blazes it over the bar. He hit the ball hard but had no accuracy. He should have prioritised more accuracy and less power on that shot.

01:13 PM BST

39 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Pulisic wins AC Milan a corner off Calafiori and then takes the corner he won but his outswinger is headed away.

01:05 PM BST

32 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Saka feeds the ball onto the overlapping Havertz on the right side of the box and the German finds Rice in the centre but his shot is well blocked.

Time for a drinks break.

01:04 PM BST

30 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Saka cuts onto his favoured left foot and takes on a shot from just outside the box but the connection is not the best and the ball safely rolls into the hands of P. Terracciano.

01:03 PM BST

29 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Teenage playmaker Ethan Nwaneri has produced a few lovely flourishes in this first match since he signed a new contract at the club. He’s playing in Martin Odegaard’s usual attacking midfield position and, based on the first 25 minutes of this game against Milan, he seems keen to lay down a marker in pre-season.

Ethan Nwaneri was part of England’s Under-21 Euro winning-side earlier this summer - Roslan Rahman/Getty Images

01:02 PM BST

27 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

AC Milan go from one end to the other, attacking from deep inside their own half and moving the ball forward. Loftus-Cheek heads the ball on into the path of Leao down the left channel. He drives into the box with Saliba alongside him and the Arsenal centre-back does enough to put Leao off and a heavy touch rolls out of play. Good defending from Saliba but Leao will also be disappointed he did not even get a shot off.

12:57 PM BST

23 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Norgaard feeds a ball inside into Nwaneri, who takes one touch to get around the defender and then fires a shot from just outside the box. P. Terracciano does well to get down to his left to make the save. You feel like an Arsenal goal is coming.

12:55 PM BST

22 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Arsenal are having plenty of success down their right, the latest example White getting in and sending in a cross from the byline which is headed away. You would imagine Arsenal will continue to hunt down their right.

12:55 PM BST

21 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Nwaneri does well down Arsenal’s right to get into the box with some neat footwork before his cross is blocked. It comes to White, who attempts to fire one towards the far corner but misses the target by some way.

12:51 PM BST

17 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Saka gets past Bartesaghi too easily and this time he does try to pick out a teammate in the centre but it is cleared well by AC Milan under pressure. That was well defended by AC Milan.

Arsenal having success coming down their right - Caroline Chia/Reuters

12:49 PM BST

15 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Saka should do better there. He is found by White down Arsenal’s right and is in acres of space on the right side of the area. Instead of trying to find a teammate in the centre, he attempts a shot of his own but his effort is blocked.

12:46 PM BST

13 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Arsenal have dominated possession in the early stages but AC Milan are starting to get their foot on the ball and now have their first corner of the match down their right as Saelemaekers’ cross is deflected behind.

Pulisic takes but his delivery is poor, not even beating the first man.

12:44 PM BST

10 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Saelemaekers whips in a cross from the right all the way to the back post to find Bartesaghi, who tries to pick out a teammate by playing it across but cannot find one. He really should have done better there; could he have shot?

12:42 PM BST

9 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Loftus-Cheek bursts forward from inside his own half after taking possession and is taken down by Calafiori. No yellow card as it is a friendly but you would imagine if this had been a competitive fixture it would have been a booking.

12:41 PM BST

7 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Arsenal have their first corner of the match but Arsenal wanted a free-kick and perhaps more for a foul on Martinelli by Saelemaekers, who was stepped on but nothing more than a foul, which would be in a similar position to the corner that will be sent in.

Rice is the man to take the corner but AC Milan deal with the delivery.

12:39 PM BST

5 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Rice has Arsenal’s first effort of the game from outside the AC Milan penalty area. He opens up his body and tries to curl one into the far corner but it goes a long way over the bar.

Moments later Havertz feeds a pass forward into the box, trying to pick out Saka but the AC Milan keeper P. Terracciano is out just in time to gather. Just slightly too much on that pass.

Pietro Terracciano out quickly - Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images

12:36 PM BST

3 mins: Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0

Allegri is the new man at the helm at AC Milan after a disappointing campaign last season in Serie A. He obviously has plenty of experience in the Italian top flight with Juventus. They make their first venture forward and Leao has a shot from the edge of the box but it is quickly blocked.

12:33 PM BST

Kick-off

We are under way in Singapore.

12:29 PM BST

Kick-off fast approaching

The crowd are ready inside the National Stadium in Singapore and both sides emerge from the tunnel. Here is a reminder of how the sides line up:

AC Milan: P. Terracciano; Pavlovic, Thiaw, Tomori, Musah, Ricci, Saelemaekers, Bartesaghi, Loftus-Cheek, Leao, Pulisic.

Substitutes: Torriani, Okafor, Chukwueze, F. Terracciano, Colombo, Bondo, Gabbia, Pittarella, Comotto, Dutu, Magni, Liberali.

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Calafiori, Zinchenko; Norgaard, Rice, Nwaneri; Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.

Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Rojas-Fedorushchenko, Nichols, Kiwior, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Lokonga, Copley, Merino, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia, Nelson, Trossard, Odegaard, Harriman-Annous.

12:26 PM BST

Arsenal debuts incoming

12:19 PM BST

More than just the 90

Regardless of the score at the end of the 90 minutes today, a penalty shoot-out will take place between the two sides.

12:17 PM BST

Nwaneri’s future is at Arsenal but his route to the first team is not clear

There was a time this summer when Arsenal feared they might not be able to reach an agreement with Ethan Nwaneri’s representatives over a new contract for the teenage sensation. There was no doubt that Nwaneri wanted to remain at Arsenal, the club he joined at eight, but there was genuine concern that a deal might not be sealed before the new season.

For a little while, the situation posed some sensitive and uncomfortable questions of Arsenal’s key decision-makers. Could they risk allowing Nwaneri to enter the final year of his contract, and therefore potentially become a free agent next summer? In that scenario, he would have been able to talk to foreign clubs from January about a pre-contract agreement.

Or would an impasse in negotiations have compelled Arsenal to take the difficult decision to listen to offers for the 18-year-old? It is a horrifying thought for Arsenal’s supporters but the concern within the club was real. So much so that, as reported by Telegraph Sport, Chelsea and clubs in Germany began to show serious interest in signing Nwaneri.

12:13 PM BST

Teams in full

AC Milan starting XI: P. Terracciano; Pavlovic, Thiaw, Tomori, Musah, Ricci, Saelemaekers, Bartesaghi, Loftus-Cheek, Leao, Pulisic.

Substitutes: Torriani, Okafor, Chukwueze, F. Terracciano, Colombo, Bondo, Gabbia, Pittarella, Comotto, Dutu, Magni, Liberali.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Calafiori, Zinchenko; Norgaard, Rice, Nwaneri; Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.

Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Rojas-Fedorushchenko, Nichols, Kiwior, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Lokonga, Copley, Merino, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia, Nelson, Trossard, Odegaard, Harriman-Annous.

12:09 PM BST

AC Milan’s pre-season schedule

Today: Arsenal vs AC Milan

Saturday 26^th July: Liverpool vs AC Milan

Thursday 31^st July: Perth Glory vs AC Milan

Saturday 9^th August: Leeds vs AC Milan

Sunday 10^th August: Chelsea vs AC Milan

12:06 PM BST

Arsenal’s pre-season schedule

Today: Arsenal vs AC Milan

Sunday 27^th July: Arsenal vs Newcastle

Thursday 31^st July: Arsenal vs Tottenham

Wednesday 6^th August: Arsenal vs Villarreal

Saturday 9^th August: Arsenal vs Athletic Bilbao

12:02 PM BST

Mikel Arteta defends Arsenal stance after Thomas Partey rape charges

Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal’s handling of Thomas Partey after the midfielder was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Partey, 32, was charged on July 4 over incidents involving three different women. The alleged offences date back to incidents said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. He denies all charges. Two counts of rape relate to one complainant, three further counts of rape to a second, while the sexual assault charge is connected to a third woman.

Partey left Arsenal when his contract expired on June 30, four days before the charges were announced. The timing is in no way connected. Despite growing pressure for the club to explain their handling of the matter, Arsenal have so far declined to comment in detail, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

11:57 AM BST

‘Arsenal land £50m Noni Madueke – this data explains why they wanted him’

Noni Madueke has said “gut feeling” led him to Arsenal this summer after the England winger completed his move from Chelsea in a deal worth an initial £48 million.

Madueke will wear the number 20 shirt in north London as he competes with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli for a place on the wings.

Arsenal’s interest in Madueke prompted a negative reaction from some sections of their fanbase but the club are convinced the 23-year-old represents excellent value for money.

11:52 AM BST

Arsenal in the house

11:49 AM BST

AC Milan selected transfers

INS:

Samuele Ricci ⇠ Torino

Luka Modric ⇠ Real Madrid

OUTS:

Tijjani Reijnders ⇢ Manchester City

Theo Hernandez ⇢ Al-Hilal

Pierre Kalulu ⇢ Juventus

11:43 AM BST

Arsenal transfers:

INS:

Christian Norgaard ⇠ Brentford

Kepa Arrizabalaga ⇠ Chelsea

Martin Zubimendi ⇠ Real Sociedad

Noni Madueke ⇠ Chelsea

OUTS:

Thomas Partey

Kieran Tierney ⇢ Celtic

Nuno Tavares ⇢ Lazio

Jorginho ⇢ Flamengo

Takehiro Tomiyasu

11:38 AM BST

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11:31 AM BST

Arsenal team news

11:27 AM BST

Match preview

Arsenal kick off their pre-season campaign at the National Stadium in Singapore as they take on AC Milan. Mikel Arteta has added Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke to his ranks, although Madueke is not yet available as he is still on a break following his exploits with Chelsea at the Club World Cup. They are also closing in on a deal to sign striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting and Christhian Mosquera from Valencia. Arteta has spoken about the impact of the new signings on his squad.

“It is like shaking the tree again and bringing new faces. They bring new excitement, a new energy as well. We signed very important players as well. Again, everybody feels like their height has to go to a different level, and that is what we are seeking. Ideally, you want it [transfers] done on day one in pre-season. We have done very, very well so far.

“I am very pleased with the way the club is supporting the necessities and improvements that we required in the team. Andrea [Berta] and the team have done an excellent job as well, trying to push everything forward. There is still a long time to go in that window. We have a lot of hope that we can still improve the team. We are going to continue to try to do that.”

Arsenal play AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore before moving onto Hong Kong to take on north London rivals Tottenham. They will then return to the UK to take on Villareal and Athletic Bilbao at the Emirates before their opening Premier League game away to Manchester United.

AC Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and have therefore replaced Sergio Conceicao with Massimiliano Allegri at the helm. Their fans will not get a first glimpse of new signing Luka Modric, who is yet to join up with the squad after his free transfer from Real Madrid. They have though lost Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City and Theo Hernandez to Al Hilal. A number of former Premier League players are in their ranks, including Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic and Fikayo Tomori.

Kick-off from Singapore is at 12.30pm.

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