Arsenal beat AC Milan in pre-season opener

Bukayo Saka scored in the second-half as Arsenal defeated AC Milan in their pre-season opener in Singapore on Wednesday.

Saka turned home Jakub Kiwior’s inviting cross from close range to finally beat Milan’s stubborn defence, with both goalkeepers Pietro Terracciano and his replacement Lorenzo Torriani denying Arsenal on a number of occasions.

In their first friendly of the 2025/26 season, Mikel Arteta named only one of his new signings in his opening starting line-up as Christian Norgaard partnered Declan Rice at the base of his midfield, with Ethan Nwaneri in the hole.

While Norgaard was as tidy as expected it was the 18-year-old, given a rare run-out in a central role, who took the game by the scruff of the neck.

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Moments before the break, Arsenal were denied a more routine opportunity, as Riccardo Calafiori saw a goalbound header cleared off the line by Pavlovic as the Gunners provided their trademark problems from corners.

A flurry of half-time changes brought on Martin Zubimendi to partner Rice, with Martin Odegaard spearheading the midfield in what may well prove Arteta’s first-choice trio against Manchester United on the Premier League opening weekend next month.

But it was a player whose future appears to be away from the Emirates Stadium who made what would prove the match-winner, as Kiwior’s inswinging cross proved a nightmare to defend against and allowed Saka to steal a march and sidefoot home.

The Star