Bukayo Saka’s second-half strike got Arsenal’s pre-season off to a winning start over AC Milan, which was more comfortable than the 1-0 scoreline suggested.
Saka turned home Jakub Kiwior’s inviting cross from close range to finally beat Milan’s stubborn defence, with both goalkeepers Pietro Terracciano and his replacement Lorenzo Torriani denying the Gunners on a number of occasions.
In their first friendly of the 2025/26 season, Mikel Arteta named only one of his new signings in his opening starting line-up as Christian Norgaard partnered Declan Rice at the base of his midfield, with Ethan Nwaneri in the hole.
While Norgaard was as tidy as expected it was the 18-year-old, given a rare run-out in a central role, who took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Nwaneri and Arsenal had struggled to impose themselves in the opening stages but shortly after he skinned Strahinja Pavlovic out wide the youngster settled. He almost produced a spectacular opener when teeing himself up on the bounce, only for Terracciano to deny his powerful effort with a strong save.
Moments before the break Arsenal were denied a more routine opportunity, as Riccardo Calafiori saw a goalbound header cleared off the line by Pavlovic as the Gunners provided their trademark problems from corners.
Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi made his debut
A flurry of half-time changes brought on Martin Zubimendi to partner Rice, with Martin Odegaard spearheading the midfield in what may well prove Arteta’s first-choice trio against Manchester United on the Premier League opening weekend next month, live on Sky Sports.
But it was a player whose future appears to be away from the Emirates Stadium who made what would prove the match-winner, as Kiwior’s inswinging cross proved a nightmare to defend against and allowed Saka to steal a march and sidefoot home.
Torriani kept up what Terracciano had started by leaping to his left to keep out a Mikel Merino header as Arsenal’s dominance continued, with Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard also going close.
But perhaps the icing on the cake was the arrival and performance from the bench of 15-year-old Max Dowman, one of the highest-rated academy players at London Colney of recent times.
His non-competitive debut almost brought a goal within minutes as he fired wide following a mazy run, with Arteta shown plenty to like about the short and long-term future of his Arsenal side ahead of 2025/26.
Analysis: Plenty for Arteta to take from pre-season opener
Sky Sports’ Ron Walker:
“Mikel Arteta won’t have been surprised by what he saw from his Arsenal players in their first game back for the new season, but he will have been encouraged.
“Christian Norgaard was everything expected from the tenacious ball-winner, and Martin Zubimendi, the only other new face in an outfield role, showed his Spanish class when he came on after the break.
“There were early signs that the midfield trio of Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard will click from the get-go as Arsenal enjoyed a dominant second period when the three were on the pitch.
“Ethan Nwaneri’s performance in a central role was also impressive, and the combination play between Ben White and Bukayo Saka down the right will have been a particularly welcome sight for the manager, who was not able to deploy his first-choice pairing on that flank anywhere near as much as he would have liked last season.”
