Martin Odegaard scored an 84th-minute penalty to help Arsenal beat Newcastle 3-2 in a thrilling pre-season match in Singapore. The Gunners earned their second win of the tour, following a 1-0 victory over AC Milan earlier.
Arsenal Recover After Early Setback
Newcastle struck first in the 6th minute. Anthony Elanga, the club’s new signing, blasted a low shot into the bottom corner. He connected well with Sandro Tonali’s cross, giving Newcastle an early lead.
Arsenal struggled initially but found their rhythm midway through the first half. Mikel Merino equalized in the 33rd minute after a clever flick from Kai Havertz.
Two minutes later, Arsenal took the lead. Alex Murphy mistakenly turned the ball into his own net under pressure.
Newcastle Hit Back Before Odegaard’s Winner
After the break, Bukayo Saka came close to scoring. His bicycle kick was on target, but Nick Pope pulled off a brilliant save.
Newcastle leveled the game again through Jacob Murphy. His low shot from outside the box beat David Raya, catching Arsenal off-guard.
Then came the game-changing moment. Max Dowman, just 15 years old, made a surging run into the box. Joelinton clipped him, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Odegaard converted calmly to seal the win for Arsenal. “Playing against Newcastle today wasn’t just a friendly. It was a real test,” said Mikel Arteta.
“It gave us the chance to raise our competitiveness and physical level. There are still things we need to work on, like how we compete, understand our positions and show the willingness to win.”
Gyokeres Introduced, Debut Still to Come
Before kickoff, Arsenal unveiled Viktor Gyokeres to a crowd of over 38,700. The Swedish striker signed from Sporting Lisbon just a day earlier.
The 27-year-old watched the match from the bench. He could make his debut against Tottenham Hotspur next Thursday in Hong Kong. “We are increasing the quality of the squad all the time, so we’re super happy to have Viktor with us,” said Arteta.
“It has been a long journey to get him here.”
Arsenal Look Ready for New Season
Arsenal’s win showed their growing depth and confidence. With exciting young talent like Dowman and new signings ready to contribute, the team looks sharp ahead of the 2025-26 season.
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