Opinion: Gunners sizzle in style, but who was the real winner against Milan?

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·25 luglio 2025

Opinion: Gunners sizzle in style, but who was the real winner against Milan?

Arsenal were back in action on Wednesday for their first Asia pre-season friendly against AC Milan.

A Bukayo Saka goal saw the Gunners register a 1-0 win, kicking off their summer campaign in style.

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Much has been said about that friendly, but the real question is: who were the biggest winners from that game?

Six players who caught the eye against AC Milan

I could not settle on just one, so here is how I saw it:

Ethan Nwaneri made several eye-catching moves during the 45 minutes he clocked against Milan. Operating as a No.10, his meaningful dribbles and quick releases stood out, especially his smooth collaboration down the right-hand side.
Ben White’s resurgence is on. With 66 minutes on the pitch, there was a palpable freshness to his play. He reminded us of what injury had denied us last season. His runs from deep and the timing of his passes showed just how much he offers in the final third.
Martin Zubimendi, in just 45 minutes, gave a glimpse of what Arsenal have been missing in deep-lying creativity. His impact was instant, forward-thinking and crisp, punching passes through the lines to spark attacking phases.

Ben White and Declan Rice (Getty Images)

Dowman, Nelson and Havertz make strong cases

Max Dowman, in his 24-minute cameo, lived up to the hype. He looked as though he had been part of this squad for five years. He is a serious talent and clearly up for a big season.
Reiss Nelson staked his claim as a genuine rival to Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli for the left-wing spot. His display left many Gooners wanting more, and he was arguably the most effective off the left in that match. If no other winger arrives, Nelson may deserve to stay.
Kai Havertz, returning from pre-season, looked physically sharper. His fluidity and strength will be something Mikel Arteta is eager to tap into. Against Milan, he showed he will not surrender the No.9 role to Viktor Gyökeres without a fight.

Who were your standouts? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

COYG!

Daniel O

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