Arsenal Strike First Blood Against Milan in Pre-Season Thriller - Complete Player Ratings Inside
Arsenal began their pre-season campaign with an impressive 1–0 triumph against Milan in Singapore, thanks to Bukayo Saka's crucial second-half goal.
The Gunners established an energetic tempo early in their Asian tour while their Italian opponents found it difficult to break through Arsenal's pressing game under Massimiliano Allegri's return to Milan's technical area. Saka displayed exceptional form along the right flank, though Arsenal found limited opportunities to test debutant keeper Pietro Terracciano consistently.
The Rossoneri showed flashes of their counter-attacking prowess, primarily through Rafael Leão, but rarely mounted sustained pressure on David Raya's goal. Arsenal dominated possession in Milan's defensive third, creating fluid attacking patterns while struggling to break down the compact five-man defensive structure.
Arsenal's first-half disappointment transformed into celebration just seven minutes into the second period when they claimed a well-earned advantage. Half-time replacement Jakub Kiwior provided a dangerous cross to the back post, finding Saka unmarked, with the England winger's mishit effort deflecting into the far corner for their opening pre-season strike.
The Gunners maintained relentless pressure on Milan's defense as Mikel Arteta made tactical substitutions. Martín Zubimendi entered at the interval to replace fellow newcomer Christian Nørgaard, while Kepa Arrizabalaga made his debut appearance after the break. Two 15-year-old prospects, Marli Salmon and Max Dowman, were given opportunities with 25 minutes left as Arsenal pursued a second goal.
Mikel Merino, Arsenal's unexpected scoring sensation from last campaign, nearly doubled their lead, but Milan goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani made a brilliant save to deny the Spaniard's header. Leandro Trossard also tested the young keeper's reflexes with a curling long-distance strike during the final ten minutes.
Several additional attempts threatened to breach Torriani's net, but Arsenal couldn't enhance their scoreline. Following the Gunners' victory, the match ended with a penalty shootout, which Milan claimed 6–5.
Milan Player Ratings (3-5-2)
*Ratings provided by FotMob*
Player | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
GK: Pietro Terracciano | 6.4 |
CB: Fikayo Tomori | 6.6 |
CB: Malick Thiaw | 6.4 |
CB: Strahinja Pavlović | 7.7 |
RWB: Alexis Saelemaekers | 6.7 |
CM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek | 6.0 |
CM: Samuele Ricci | 6.1 |
CM: Yunus Musah | 6.5 |
LWB: Davide Bartesaghi | 6.8 |
ST: Christian Pulisic | 6.1 |
ST: Rafael Leão | 6.4 |
SUB: Samuel Chukwueze (46' for Saelemaekers) | 5.8 |
SUB: Matteo Gabbia (46' for Tomori) | 6.2 |
SUB: Noah Okafor (46' for Pulisic) | 5.6 |
SUB: Lorenzo Torriani (65' for P. Terracciano) | 8.8 |
SUB: Filippo Terracciano (65' for Thiaw) | 6.0 |
SUB: Christian Comotto (65' for Ricci) | N/A |
SUB: Warren Bondo (65' for Loftus-Cheek) | 6.0 |
SUB: Vittorio Magni (79' for Bartesaghi) | N/A |
SUB: Mattia Liberali (79' for Musah) | 6.0 |
SUB: Matteo Duțu (79' for Pavlović) | 6.9 |
SUB: Lorenzo Colombo (79' for Leão) | 6.0 |
Subs not used: Matteo Pittarella.
Arsenal Player Ratings (4-3-3)
*Ratings provided by FotMob*
Player | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
GK: David Raya | 5.9 |
RB: Ben White | 7.3 |
CB: William Saliba | 7.2 |
CB: Riccardo Calafiori | 7.7 |
LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko | 6.8 |
CM: Ethan Nwaneri | 6.8 |
CM: Christian Nørgaard | 6.7 |
CM: Declan Rice | 6.9 |
RW: Bukayo Saka | 8.1 |
ST: Kai Havertz | 7.0 |
LW: Gabriel Martinelli | 6.9 |
SUB: Kepa Arrizabalaga (46' for Raya) | 7.7 |
SUB: Myles Lewis-Skelly (46' for Zinchenko) | 6.6 |
SUB: Martín Zubimendi (46' for Nørgaard) | 7.1 |
SUB: Martin Ødegaard (46' for Nwaneri) | 7.0 |
SUB: Leandro Trossard (46' for Martinelli) | 6.9 |
SUB: Jakub Kiwior (46' for Calafiori) | 7.4 |
SUB: Max Dowman (66' for Saka) | N/A |
SUB: Josh Nichols (66' for White) | 6.6 |
SUB: Marli Salmon (66' for Saliba) | N/A |
SUB: Mikel Merino (66' for Rice) | 6.6 |
SUB: Reiss Nelson (79' for Havertz) | 6.4 |
Subs not used: Tommy Setford (GK), Alexei Rojas (GK), Louie Copley, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Ismeal Kabia, Andre Harriman-Annous.