Dowman dazzles, Saka shines and midfield duo debut: Six big talking points as Arsenal beat AC Milan in pre-season friendly in Singapore | OneFootball

The Singapore Festival of Football is a wonderful occasion for fans of European sides who rarely get to see their favourite players in the flesh.

And they turned out in reasonable numbers at the National Stadium, Singapore to see two of the biggest clubs in England and Italy go toe-to-toe.

For respective managers Max Allegri, newly installed at AC Milan, and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, it was a chance to test their players’ fitness levels and tactical tweaks ahead of next month’s new season.

A second-half Bukayo Saka goal won the match for Arsenal on a sweltering summer night.

A marathon post-match ‘friendly penalty shoot-out’, a regular fixture in Arteta’s pre-season matches was won 6-5 by AC Milan. (Zubimendi Merino, Dowman, Trossard and Nichols scored, Kepa saved three, Odegaard, Nelson, Kiwior and Salmon missed).

There was, however, more to the night than the result. Our Arsenal reporter Nick Callow is out in Singapore and recaps some of the big talking points from the game…

Dazzling Dowman

At last we saw who many have dubbed ‘best 15-year-old in England’ in a first-team game. The Essex wonderkid turned 15 on New Year’s Eve only last year and he is now part of Arteta’s first team squad, wearing number 56.

He received an even bigger cheer than star boy Saka when he came on for the Arsenal goalscorer midway through the second half. His first touches saw him complete a dangerous dribble with the ball and run at goal. He could well replace Ethan Nwaneri (15 years and 181 days in 2022) as the Premier League’s youngest player in the coming months. The way he took his penalty post-match was exceptional in the circumstances.

New boys

Only Christian Norgaard of Arteta’s five summer signings to date made the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga sat on the bench with fellow Spain international Martin Zubimendi, while Noni Madueke is on a post-Club World Cup break and Christhian Mosquera is yet to join up with the squad.

All of the Arsenal fans were talking about Viktor Gyokeres before the match and it is hoped the Sporting striker will join them in Asia in time to feature either against Newcastle United at the weekend or Tottenham, in Hong Kong, next week.

Norgaard fitted in well alongside Declan Rice at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield, defensively sound and probing going forward.

White all right

Ben White started at right back and was instantly in tune with his team-mate Bukayo Saka on the right wing. The pair have combined so well in the past and Arsenal missed their goal threat last season, despite the impressive emergence of Jurrien Timber in White’s absence.

White will give Arteta a great option while Timber recovers fully from an injury sustained in May. In other defensive news, Gabriel was also rested as he seeks to regain full fitness following hamstring surgery and Riccardo Calafiori filled in alongside William Saliba at centre back.

Nwaneri’s central role

Arsenal are yet to announce their teenage star’s new long-term contract, but the trophy-winning England under-21 international once again reminded fans here why he is regarded as one of Europe’s best young prospects.

He largely filled in for the injured Saka on the right-wing last season, but is seen as a central midfield player going forward and in this game he showed just how suited he is to that role. His pace and energy in intensely humid conditions was exemplary and a stinging half volley, superbly saved by Pietro Terracciano, was the highlight of the first half.

Arsenal in action against AC Milan. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Super Zubs

Star summer signing Martin Zubimendi made his Arsenal debut at the start of the second half, replacing the faultless Norgaard. The Spain midfielder was one of six half-time subs as Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and keeper Kepa also came on. Nwaneri, Oleksander Zinchenko, Gabriel Martinelli, Calafiori and David Raya made way.

Arteta made a further four changes with Mikel Merino and youngsters Marli Salmon, Josh Nichols and Max Dowman joining the action for White, Rice, Saliba and Saka. Reiss Nelson, back from his loan at Fulham, replaced Kai Havertz late on. Whatever the outcome of this friendly it was an example of how Arteta is going into the new season with more options in his squad than he did last season.

Saka shines

Bukayo Saka celebrates against AC Milan. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Saka’s close-range finish shortly into the second half was not the only moment in which the England star boy showed what a goalscoring threat he can be from the right wing. How Arsenal missed him for such a long time at such a crucial stage of last season when he had to undergo major hamstring surgery in December.

Considering the new season is still almost a month away, Saka looked strong, fit and will again be his side’s talisman unless Viktor Gyokores scores goals for fun on his arrival. He was deservedly voted man of the match.