Arsenal kicked off their tour of Singapore with a 1-0 win over Italian giants AC Milan. Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game in the 56th minute from a tantalizing cross on the left by Jakub Kiwior. For some reason, there were penalties after the 90 minutes, which AC Milan won 5-6 with some excellent saves from both Kepa and Peitro Terraciano in goal.
It was a positive first outing for Mikel Arteta’s men with debuts for Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi. There was also significant game time for Kai Havertz and Ben White, both of whom were out for a large chunk of last season. But what stood out from yesterday’s game?
Arsenal’s Hale End talent got us off our feet.
Myles Lewis-Skelly grabbed all the headlines with a breakout season, but there may yet be more talent coming through the Hale End pipeline. Ethan Nwaneri started in the number 10 position, and there were encouraging signs that Arsenal have that position potentially nailed down for the next decade or so.
Nwaneri looked bulkier and wasn’t afraid to get into the Physical side of the game. On the ball, he was direct and wanted to get shots off anytime he faced the goal. One moment in the 22nd minute stands out. Norgaard is in a tight spot from a throw-in on the left after a heavy touch. He pings a ball towards Nwaneri, who’s lurking at the edge of the box. Nwaneri’s touch is so good that he sets himself up for a shot while also sending his marker, Pulisic, the wrong way. Martin Odegaard replaced him for the second half, but the eighteen-year-old has given Mikel Arteta something to think about.
Got this on repeat 🔄 pic.twitter.com/0QXefa9YzE
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 24, 2025
Then came a flurry of substitutes in the 66th minute with a focus on the youth prospects. Who was going to make us notice? Which Hale End youngster was the next Lewis-Skelly? The answer: fifteen-year-old Max Dowman. If you’re on Twitter, then you’ve certainly come across a clip of Max Dowman tearing defences apart in the Under-18s. We heard he was good but we hadn’t seen it against top-level players.
Dowman looked like he belonged with those grown men on the pitch. Physically, he’s already at such a high level that it’s not far-fetched to say he could be a part of the first team this season. He played on the right and looked a threat every time he cut onto his left foot and made a darting run into the box. His decision-making was also impressive for someone so young. Arsenal have a responsibility to protect Dowman and ensure his integration isn’t rushed. The early signs are that they have a gem on their hands.
Marli Salmon, another fifteen-year-old also looked promising. The young defender offered a glimpse of his nice passing range with a couple of balls in behind the Milan defence. Joshua Nichols, on for Ben White on the right, looked assured on the ball.
Riccardo Calafiori and Jakub Kiwior impress.
Riccardo Calafiori at CB is fun to watch. One minute he’s making a run into midfield with the ball or playing a defence-splitting pass between the lines, and the next minute he’s caught out of position for a counterattack.
Yesterday, for example, he was always on hand to counter-press or make the early foul when Arsenal lost the ball. Sometimes he gets caught out, and it leads to a transition chance for the opposition. In the first half, Ruben Loftus-Cheek managed to get his head on the ball ahead of Calafiori and put Rafael Leao through on goal, but Saliba made the recovery. However, on the ball, Calafiori is so dynamic that you have to take risks with him. He often pulled out wide as the wide CB, ready to make a third-man run with the ball.
Jakub Kiwior, on the other hand, keeps reminding us not to write him off just yet in this Arsenal side. The Pole provided the assist for the only goal of the game and showcased his leadership skills in the second half when paired with the inexperienced Marli Salmon. His passing was also top-notch especially in buildup; he always found a pass between the lines to progress play forward.
Debuts for Christian Norgaard, Kepa and Martin Zubimendi.
Kepa didn’t have much to do during the 90 minutes, but the keeper was certainly busy in the penalty shootout. The Spanish keeper saved 3 spot kicks in what could be a valuable skill set as the Gunners aim to compete on multiple fronts.
Hat-trick of penalty saves 🧤
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 24, 2025
👏 Kepa pic.twitter.com/GSrPbfyou2
Christian Norgaard had a mixed 45 minutes. On the ball, he wasn’t spectacular but kept things moving with simple passes. He was always available for a pass and sought to get the ball moving as soon as he got it. However, his off-the-ball play stuck out. He seemed a bit slow to come out of the defensive shape and gave his man way too much space. His recoveries also seemed slow; he wasn’t quick to jump out and stop a transition opportunity when Arsenal lost the ball.
Martin Zubimendi, on the other hand, looked like a conductor in an orchestra. His forward passing also stood out, especially when AC Milan were in a low block. He wants to thread a pass amidst all the bodies in the box, a trait that will heavily benefit Arsenal, who face deep defensive lines. He had a solid debut.
Question marks over Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard.
Martinelli was as frustrating as he was last season. He did some fine things, such as taking on and beating his fullback, but his end product was not there. Many of Arsenal’s dangerous attacks came from the right side. They cannot go into another season with an unbalanced attack like the past two seasons. Either Mikel Arteta changes Martinelli’s role and plays to his strengths, or he upgrades on him in that position.
Martin Ødegaard had me frustrated yesterday. He was so good at progressing the ball from deep and playing passes for the right winger, but he can be so frustrating to watch in the final third. On one occasion, Reiss Nelson delivers a lovely cross into the box, which Ødegaard takes well on his chest. But instead of a first-time strike with his right foot, he tries to control the ball and set himself up for a shot, and he ends up narrowing his angle too much for a goal kick.
The number 10 has to be lethal in and around the box. Ødegaard isn’t showing that level of productivity. He’s superb at pressing, positional play but often he will favour slowing down an attack because he can’t beat his man or doesn’t trust himself enough to make that attack count. Compare that with how Nwaneri was always looking for space to shoot and affect the game. It’s a crucial season for Arsenal, and Ødegaard needs to step up with goals and assists.
Transition Potential….
There’s a moment before half time where Kai Havertz wins the ball off Musah in midfield and sets Martinelli off towards goal. Martinelli cuts inside but his shot goes wide. I could picture that moment with Victor Gyokeres. This happened a lot during the game; there were multiple transition opportunities for Arsenal, which didn’t result in goals.
Critics of that potential transfer often cite the low blocks that Arsenal face. While that is true, Arsenal have a huge capacity to improve on the transition opportunities afforded to them.
Notable mention to William Saliba. He was unbelievable. The recovery to deny Ruben Loftus-Cheek was so impressive and summarizes his impact on the Arsenal project. He was akin to a horse in full flight. They have an elite young CB and have to make the most of his time at the Emirates.
