Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan. A Good Start for the Gunners in 2025/26 Season?

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Arsenal have begun their pre-season preparations for the 2025/2026 season with a positive result.

The Gunners defeated Serie A giants AC Milan in their opening pre-season match at the Singapore National Stadium.

This victory is a positive sign for Mikel Arteta's squad ahead of the official competition.

The match, which took place on July 23, 2025, was a major highlight due to the display of several new players and promising performances from young talents.

Bukayo Saka's second-half goal secured Arsenal's victory, providing a strong start to a busy pre-season schedule.

In addition to the win over AC Milan, Arsenal have also confirmed their pre-season schedule, which will take them across Asia for the first time since 2018.

This series of matches is designed to optimally prepare the team for the challenges of the coming season, both domestically and in European competitions.

Arsenal kicked off their 2025 preseason campaign with a 1-0 victory over AC Milan at the Singapore National Stadium.

Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute, converting a precise cross from Jakub Kiwior.

This victory demonstrated Arsenal's commitment to preparing for the new season.This match also marked the debuts of several new Arsenal signings.

Christian Norgaard, signed from Brentford, started and adapted well.

Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi, two other summer signings, came off the bench in the second half, bringing fresh energy to the squad.

These changes had a positive impact, increasing Arsenal's dominance on the pitch.

Despite dominating possession in the first half, Arsenal struggled to break the deadlock.

However, a tactical change and the introduction of key players in the second half transformed the game.

Manager Mikel Arteta particularly praised his team's attitude and dominance, particularly their control of the game after the break.

Furthermore, 15-year-old academy player Max Dowman, who came on for Bukayo Saka, also displayed impressive confidence and talent, giving hope for the team's future.

As part of the pre-season agreement, the two teams still went to a penalty shootout despite Arsenal winning the match in normal time.

This was intended to test the skills of their penalty takers. In the penalty shootout, AC Milan won 6-5 after Arsenal's Marli Salmon missed the penalty.

The victory over AC Milan marked a very positive start for Arsenal in their preparations for the 2025/2026 season.

This match highlighted several promising aspects that could lay a strong foundation for the team's future performances.

The combination of Ben White and Bukayo Saka on the right flank was highly effective, consistently causing problems for the AC Milan defense and showing dangerous attacking potential.

Furthermore, the performances of the younger players were also commendable.

Ethan Nwaneri, playing in a central position, put in a strong performance and nearly scored, proving his ability at senior level.

Max Dowman, who came on as a substitute, also made a positive impact with his confidence and excellent vision, demonstrating the depth of Arsenal's squad.

Overall, Arsenal maintained control of the game in the second half, although they were unable to add to their tally.

This demonstrated the team's ability to manage matches and maintain stability.

While there are some areas for improvement, such as sharpness in finishing, this first pre-season performance gives confidence that Arsenal are on the right track for the 2025/2026 season.

Arsenal have released their full preseason fixture list for the 2025/2026 season.

After three preseasons in the United States, the Gunners will now head to Asia, a much-anticipated change for fans in the region.

The tour will include two countries, Singapore and Hong Kong, where they will face tough opponents from the Premier League and Serie A.After completing the Asian tour, the team will return to North London for two final friendlies.

These matches will serve as final preparation before the start of the season. These matches are expected to provide Mikel Arteta with the opportunity to test various formations and strategies.

Here is Arsenal's confirmed pre-season schedule:

• July 19: Watford (behind closed doors) at Sobha Realty Training Centre.
• July 23: AC Milan at Singapore National Stadium.
• July 27: Newcastle United at Singapore National Stadium.
• July 31: Tottenham Hotspur at Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong.
• August 6: Villarreal at Emirates Stadium (Emirates Cup).
• August 9: Athletic Bilbao at Emirates Stadium (Emirates Cup).