The dust has settled on the clash between AC Milan and Arsenal FC at the National Stadium for Singapore Festival of Football 2025, with the Gunners nabbing a 1-0 win over the team from Italy. Milan, however, got a consolation victory in the exhibition penalty shootout, prevailing 6-5.
Here’s what we learned from the match:
Milan are blunt
Santiago Giménez did not make the trip to Singapore after participating in Mexico’s victorious CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign, and his absence was sorely felt at the National Stadium.
AC Milan toiled to no avail, with only flashes of brilliance from Rafael Leão causing brief trouble to the Arsenal backline. Leão is an excellent player, no doubt, but he isn’t at all a striker; he is much better running at defenders on the wing.
Following the departures of Tammy Abraham and Luka Jović, Milan are very light in the striker department. To last the long season campaign, even without the additional workload from European competition, the Rossoneri will need someone to come in.
Arsenal need a focal point in attack
While Arsenal convincingly dominated the match, with 23 shots to AC Milan’s 3, many questions remained over their ability to put the ball in the back of the net. With only one goal to show for their efforts, the play at times felt laboured and one-dimensional, and might be sorely punished come the start of the new season.
Much of the play came down the right through Bukayo Saka, which is no surprise, but by the time Saka beats his man and squares it to the centre, Milan already had men covering and easily cleared his pull backs. The second half was a little different, with Arsenal going more direct, but even the goal was slightly fortuitous. They need someone to direct those balls to.
With the impending announcement of Viktor Gyökeres, Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be pleased that the team will have more options going forward, to build on an already destructive force that can sweep teams aside at times (see the 5-1 drubbing of Manchester City), and Gyökeres will no doubt be relishing his opportunity to shine.
The kids are alright
Despite the many frustrations in recent times for Arsenal fans, the Hale End Academy has rarely let them down, and this time was no different, with academy players Max Dowman and Marli Salmon making their first-team debuts at just 15 years old, and they both impressed.
Dowman was silky smooth on the ball, with a mazy dribble nearly leading to a goal just minutes after his introduction. Salmon, on the other hand, put in a good shift to keep the entire AC Milan attack quiet, looking composed and right at home in what was an otherwise unfamiliar environment.
It may still be some time before the two get integrated into the first team, but seeing how Arsenal have ushered the progress of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, it will be exciting to watch when they do make their debuts.
Has Milan found their new Donnarumma?
Gianluigi Donnarumma may now be in between the sticks for Paris Saint-Germain, but let’s not forget that he initially made his name for AC Milan just over a decade ago.
Lorenzo Torriani may not have been as fresh-faced as the 16-year-old Donnarumma when he made his debut, but he nonetheless caught the eye with a number of excellent stops from Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard, and Reiss Nelson.
And he was the hero for the exhibition penalty shootout as well, making three saves as Milan won. Mike Maignan is seemingly set to stay for this season, but the youngster has the potential to take over should the Frenchman decide to move on. This season could see him shine in the cup competition.
AC Milan now depart Singapore for Hong Kong to meet Liverpool for their next pre-season game. Arsenal remain in the city and await Newcastle for the second and final match for Singapore Festival of Football 2025.
Arsenal FC vs Newcastle
🗓️Date: 27 July 2025
📍Location: National Stadium, 1 Stadium Dr, Singapore 397629
⏰Time: 7.30 pm
For tickets to the Arsenal vs Newcastle, the final match for the Singapore Festival of Football 2025, visit the Ticketek Singapore website to purchase them.
Photos by Leo Chia of the DANAMIC Team.
