Arsenal kicked off their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 win over AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore.
Bukayo Saka bundled home the only goal for Mikel Arteta’s side early in the second half, as the Gunners boss handed debuts to summer signings Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Our chief football reporter, CRAIG HOPE, was in attendance, and here are his FIVE big take-aways…
Bukayo Saka scored the only goal as Arsenal beat AC Milan 1-0 in their pre-season opener
Nwaneri makes World Cup pitch
Ethan Nwaneri will go to the World Cup with England next summer. There you have it, a hot-take from the sauna of Singapore’s National Stadium to kick off pre-season.
I watched him last season and saw a boy, albeit a very talented one. Given he was 17, that is not a criticism, either. But what we saw here was a man.
Nwaneri does not look 18 and does not play 18. If anything, his new shirt number, 22, would be a better guess of the player’s age if not knowing so otherwise.
He was used as a No.10 but caused havoc left, right and centrally. Indeed, Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic would rather Nwaneri had not drifted right at one point in the first half. He thought he had the Arsenal youngster trapped against the touchline. It was Nwaneri setting the trap and, with a piece of skill akin to escapology, he made a statue of his opponent before fleeing into the penalty area.
There was soon another moment of magic, a snap turn on the edge of the area that sent Samuele Ricci for the half-time noodles. His shot, a crisp half-volley, was turned behind by the Milan goalkeeper.
Nwaneri made way at the break but we had seen enough. He is ready to start more for Arsenal (there were 11 in the Premier League last season) and he is ready to win elevation to the senior England squad. And yes, he’ll go to the World Cup.
Ethan Nwaneri will go to the World Cup with England in 2026; he produces magic moments
Max Dowman shines
The World Cup will come too soon for Max Dowman, the 15-year-old who made his Arsenal debut here. But while there is still a bit of heat in my pre-season take-aways, here is another – Dowman for Euro 2028!
The winger didn’t just catch one eye during the final half hour, you couldn’t take either eye off him! Every time he got the ball he made something happen, including his first involvement, a dribble and shot that deserved a goal inside 60 seconds of his senior career.
Dowman looks so accomplished, a thickset schoolboy with height and poise. It’s a simple statement, but he looks like a footballer. A very good one, too. Remember the name.
Max Dowman is a good shout for Euro 2028 – it was hard to peel your eyes off him
Arsenal’s deep talent pool
And while we’re at it… is Marli Salmon really just 15 years old? Unaccustomed to Arsenal’s squad numbers, I was looking all over the field for the second schoolboy who had entered midway through the second half. I couldn’t find him. Why? That was because I’d looked straight past the two towering centre-backs, one of whom was Salmon.
They’re calling him the next William Saliba, but even the older man would doubt if he could execute the type of 60-yard cross-field ball that saw Salmon pick out Reiss Nelson.
And then there was Josh Nichols, the 18-year-old right back who may be smaller but plays with a big heart. In short, Arsenal’s talent pool looks to be running very deep right now.
Marli Salmon looks like the next William Saliba – it is scarcely believable that he is 15
Kai Havertz fails to convince
Did Kai Havertz do enough to send a message to incoming Viktor Gyokeres? Not really, no. The striker looked as if he’d bulked up and there was one meaty challenge to win the ball and start an attack, but that’s not his job. When it came to goal threat, there was very little, despite Arsenal working some excellent positions.
Havertz just does not convince, and he does not look convinced of himself as that goal-getting frontman. There were nine in the Premier League last season from 23 appearances. Not bad, but an upgrade is needed if Arsenal are to win the Premier League, which is why Gyokeres is arriving from Sporting and could join the squad here in Asia.
The Swede will expect to be first choice, and Havertz will have to show far more goalmouth intent than this if he is to disappoint his new team-mate.
Kai Havertz did not do enough to suggest he will ruffle Viktor Gyokeres’ feathers this year
Missed opportunity to attract fans
Where were the fans? This was an entertaining enough contest and, as you can take from the above, I thoroughly enjoyed the performances of several individuals. But a crowd of 22,813 in a 55,000-capacity stadium was disappointing.
The ticket prices – starting at around £70 and running a lot, lot higher – were the overriding reason, you feel. Why not make it more affordable and fill the stadium?
The attendance should be slightly better when Arsenal face Newcastle here on Sunday, but it will not be sold out. It’s a long way to come to play in front of a half-empty stadium.
