Match Setup & Team Line‑ups
Arsenal (Arteta's XI)
Mikel Arteta fielded a strong 4‑2‑3‑1 line‑up at the Singapore National Stadium. The starting XI featured Raya in goal, a backline of White, Saliba, Calafiori, and Zinchenko, and a midfield duo pairing new signing Christian Nørgaard with Declan Rice. The attacking quartet saw Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, and Martinelli supporting Kai Havertz as the central striker
Milan (Allegri's XI)
Massimiliano Allegri opted for a 3‑5‑2 formation: Terracciano between the posts, a three‑man defence of Tomori, Thiaw, and Pavlović, midfielders Saelemaekers, Loftus‑Cheek, Ricci, Musah, and Bartesaghi, and a front two of Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão
Opening Minutes & Live Action
From kick‑off, Arsenal dominated possession while Milan focused on counter‑attacks. Early highlights included Havertz’s blocked shot and Rice firing well over the bar—dramatizing Arsenal’s quest for a fast-paced, attacking start
In his debut, Terracciano, a goalkeeper, made some important interventions, especially the initial attacks by the Arsenal players, Nwaneri and Havertz. Though a pre-season friendly, even though neither team managed to score, both groups of managers and players got to experiment with new tactics, evaluate new signings and run experimental line-ups, which is crucial during the lead-up to a domestic season.
Pre‑Season Tour Context
During the pre-season build-up, Arsenal will visit Singapore to play AC Milan on 19 July, the first match of a three game tour that will also include games against Newcastle United (27 July) and Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong (31 July) and two home matches against Villarreal (6 August) and Athletic Bilbao (9 August).
Transfers & Squad Updates
Arsenal Activity
Christian Nørgaard debuted as a starter alongside Rice
Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke were part of the squad; Zubimendi and Kepa were reserve players and Madueke was part of the group after completing the Club World Cup.
Cristhian Mosquera, the Valencia centre-back, is in London awaiting documentation; the transfer is expected to finalize soon.He may join the tour later.
Arsenal has signed a significant marquee deal with Sporting Lisbon to acquire the services of striker Viktor Gyrokes where Arsenal will be paying a fee of 63 million pounds (of which 8.6 million pounds will be payable in terms of performance based add-ons). Gyokeres scored nearly 100 goals in two seasons at the age of 27, and he will be expected to join the pre-season tour of the club after the necessary paperwork is completed.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, has praised summer signings of the club at introducing a new excitement, energy, and the right balance between maturity, experience, youth, and hunger, which, according to him, are crucial in their title bid.
Milan Activity
Milan are aligned with Allegri’s ambition to reclaim Champions League qualification. They’ll pursue further reinforcements before the window closes on 31 August. The most anticipated arrival is veteran Luka Modrić, who will join the squad after the Club World Cup on 4 August
Betting & Match Predictions
We expect an open game: bookies think over 2.5 goals is the most likely outcome, this being a pre-season game, in which teams tend to focus on playing a more attacking style of football and less defensive.
Summary & Analysis
In summary, this high-profile friendly showcases both clubs’ strategies:
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Arsenal: cementing a summer overhaul with significant signings (Nørgaard, Zubimendi, Madueke, Gyökeres), signaling a title challenge mindset while nurturing academy prospects like Salmon.
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Milan: taking a structured approach under Allegri—opting for calculated pre-season preparation, awaiting Modrić to heighten midfield quality, and targeting Champions League qualification.
The match itself is still level in the first half, with early exchanges indicating an even contest—not at full competitive intensity, but perfectly poised as a meaningful friendly. Arsenal appear sharper in possession; Milan are assembling their structure and may grow into the game.
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