Milan and Arsenal Set to Clash in High-Stakes Friendly Showdown
Arsenal begin their summer preseason campaign for the first time this year, facing Italian powerhouse Milan in Singapore this Wednesday.
The Gunners nearly captured silverware once more in 2024–25, though they disappointed significantly in Premier League competition. Despite Mikel Arteta's squad securing their third consecutive runner-up position, they couldn't maintain pace with Liverpool in the championship battle as the Reds pulled away decisively in the final stretch.
European competition brought better results, yet their impressive Champions League quarterfinal victory against Real Madrid was overshadowed by semifinal elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2025–26 season is now viewed as crucial for Arteta's vision, with Arsenal launching an ambitious summer transfer window that has already delivered multiple new acquisitions.
Milan enters a fresh chapter this summer after Sergio Conceição's managerial departure, welcoming back a recognizable leader to guide the Rossoneri. Massimilano Allegri previously delivered Milan the Scudetto in 2011, and was named Conceição's replacement following a lackluster 2024–25 season.
The Rossoneri defeated city rivals Inter in the early 2025 Supercoppa Italiana final, yet performed dismally in Serie A with an eighth-place finish, missing European qualification after a 1–0 Coppa Italia final loss to Bologna.
Here is Sports Illustrated's preview of this preseason encounter.
What Time Does Milan vs. Arsenal Kick-Off?
Milan vs. Arsenal Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Milan | Arsenal |
|---|---|
Milan 2–0 Monza - 24/05/25 | Southampton 1–2 Arsenal - 25/05/25 |
Roma 3–1 Milan - 18/05/25 | Arsenal 1–0 Newcastle - 18/05/25 |
Milan 0–1 Bologna - 14/05/25 | Liverpool 2–2 Arsenal - 11/05/25 |
Milan 3–1 Bologna - 09/05/25 | PSG 2–1 Arsenal - 07/05/25 |
Genoa 1–2 Milan - 05/05/25 | Arsenal 1–2 Bournemouth - 03/05/25 |
How to Watch Milan vs. Arsenal on TV
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United States | Paramount+, fuboTV, CBS Sports Network |
United Kingdom | arsenal.com |
Canada | N/A |
Mexico | Disney+ Premium Mexico, ESPN Mexico |
Milan Team News
New boss Allegri has selected a 26-player roster for Milan's Asia-Pacific expedition, choosing to exclude notable new signing Luka Modrić. The experienced midfielder will receive rest during the coming weeks after representing Real Madrid in the Club World Cup.
The 39-year-old featured an exhausting 73 times across club and international duties last campaign.
Forward Santiago Giménez has also been omitted following his successful Gold Cup participation with Mexico. Similar to Modrić, he'll join preseason training on Aug. 4.
Fans will witness summer acquisition Samuele Ricci in Rossoneri kit for the first time.
Milan Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal
Milan predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Jiménez, Tomori, Thiaw, Pavlović; Ricci, Fofana; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leão; Colombo
Arsenal Team News
Arteta has chosen a marginally larger roster than Allegri, with 30 Arsenal players traveling to Singapore.
Gabriel Jesus continues his absence due to an ACL injury suffered early this year, though Gabriel, who missed the season's conclusion with a serious hamstring problem, has joined Arteta's squad. His Wednesday availability remains uncertain.
Seven youth academy prospects, including 15-year-old Max Dowman, aim to make impressions this summer, while new signings Martin Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga might debut here. Noni Madueke remained home after his extended 2024–25 campaign in the United States.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Milan
Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Milan (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori; Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Milan vs. Arsenal Score Prediction
This marks both teams' inaugural summer appearance, so expectations for intensity or premium quality shouldn't be excessive in Wednesday's Singapore encounter.
It will be fascinating to observe Allegri's Milan approach considering his uninspiring Juventus sides during his recent stint, and the new manager lacks the most gifted squad following Theo Hernández and Tijjani Reijnders' departures. They're especially thin in attack, though Rafael Leão remains available.
Arsenal will rotate extensively, with Arteta likely integrating new signings and providing youth opportunities. Nevertheless, they should establish dominance in this matchup and launch their summer positively.