Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan: Bukayo Saka hits winner as Gunners down Rossoneri in pre-season test | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta’s squad made a positive start to pre-season despite being limited to a solitary goal

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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Three of Mikel Arteta’s four summer signings made their debuts, with Christian Norgaard completing the first half before Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga were introduced after the break.

A crop of academy prospects also featured, with highly rated prospect Max Dowman coming close to scoring with his first touches on the ball.

The final score was not entirely representative of the match. Arsenal were comfortably the better side in both halves, but were denied by a string of remarkable saves from Terracciano and his 20-year-old replacement Lorenzo Torriani, who saved three spot-kicks in the novelty post-match penalty shootout.

Were it not for the young Italian’s interventions, denying quality efforts from Reiss Nelson’s curling effort and Mikel Merino’s driven header, the margin could have been much wider.

Arsenal were quick out of the gates. Saka and Ben White picked up where they left off last season, renewing their partnership and combining well to keep the AC Milan back line under constant pressure.

Ethan Nwaneri was also sharp, forcing a full-stretch save from Terracciano with 23 minutes played. After receiving the ball from Norgaard with his back to goal, he spun his marker with a deft flick and was unlucky not to open the scoring as he shot on the half-volley.

At the back, Arsenal did well to cope with Milan’s rare attacks. William Saliba ushered Rafael Leao wide as the Portuguese broke through the Gunners’ line shortly before the half-hour mark, while Riccardo Calafiori, who struggled with injury for long stretches of last season, was back to his physical best, putting in several key tackles to keep Milan’s forwards at bay.

Arsenal piled on the pressure as half-time approached, with Gabriel Martinelli, Saka, and White all going close, but the friendly remained level when the whistle blew.

It did not take long for Milan to crack after the break, though, as five Arsenal changes brought renewed energy into the match.

The substitute Kiwior delivered a tidy cross into a dangerous area, which Saka tapped home from the edge of the six-yard box to open both his and Arsenal’s accounts for the new season.

In his next round of substitutions, Arteta looked to Colney, introducing Dowman, Joshua Nichols, and Marli Salmon, the young trio joined by relative veteran Mikel Merino.

Dowman posed a credible threat immediately, picking up the ball and cutting in to shoot, his effort flying narrowly wide. The 15-year-old combined well with Kai Havertz to break the lines and caused Milan problems with his dribbling.

It was largely a frustrating second half for the Gunners, though, as they continued to heap on the pressure but could not find a second goal.

Making a brief cameo, Nelson went closest with a pair of late chances, but saw one long-shot deflected wide and another impressively parried by Torriani.