Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle: Odegaard settles absorbing friendly

Arsenal prodigy Max Dowman’s impressed 30-minute cameo helped the Gunners win for the second time in 5 days as Martin Odegaard’s skilled penalty six minutes from time sealed an entertaining win over Newcastle in Singapore.

Anthony Elanga opened his Newcastle account and Jacob Murphy equalised with a exact end both facet of two quickfire Arsenal targets on the Singapore National Stadium, the place Viktor Gyokeres – signed by Mikel Arteta’s facet for a payment of as much as £64 million on Saturday – was launched to the gang earlier than kick-off.

Odegaard discovered the far nook of substitute goalkeeper John Ruddy’s internet with an emphatic spot kick after Joelinton pushed Dowman over in an try to forestall the 15-year-old from advancing contained in the field.

Arsenal vs Newcastle

Having misplaced 4-0 to Celtic eight days earlier, Newcastle have been at their flowing finest for the opener, shifting play from left to proper by way of Anthony Gordon and William Osula earlier than Kieran Trippier positioned Tonali with an incisive go.

Winger Elanga, who signed for £55 million from Nottingham Forest earlier this month, met Tonali’s cross from the proper with a scuffed first-time strike to offer the Magpies a sixth-minute lead.

Italy playmaker Tonali teed up Elanga’s objective and examined David Raya shortly afterwards by drilling in a low shot that the Arsenal goalkeeper descended to say.

Gunners defender Ben White then blasted a shot over the crossbar when the ball fell kindly for the previous England worldwide contained in the field.

Arsenal restored parity when Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz seized on Newcastle shedding possession simply outdoors their very own field, combining to produce Merino to fit in.

Unfortunate 21-year-old defender Alex Murphy couldn’t readjust rapidly sufficient to keep away from firing a Havertz cross from the left into his personal internet, and Arsenal nearly prolonged their lead when Bukayo Saka’s overhead kick was turned away by Nick Pope on the goalkeeper’s close to submit 11 minutes after the restart.

That save proved all of the extra necessary when Newcastle swiftly equalised, Murphy turning to swing a low, left-footed shot previous David Raya on the goalkeeper’s close to submit from properly outdoors the field on the proper.

Max Dowman: Arsenal and England prospect shines

William Osula led the road for Newcastle as one among supervisor Eddie Howe’s few different out-and-out strikers to Alexander Isak, who has not joined their journey to Asia with a purported harm concern and curiosity from Liverpool.

Osula was unlucky to not rating when the 21-year-old – signed from Sheffield United for £15 million in 2024 – received in entrance of William Saliba and despatched a strong header broad.

After approaching within the sixtieth minute, England Under-17 worldwide Dowman charged by way of a clutch of gamers and fizzed in a low shot from simply outdoors the penalty space that was rotated a submit by Nick Pope.

Pope then parried Martin Odegaard’s drive from lengthy vary earlier than Dowman examined Ruddy with an angled shot, however the veteran had no reply after Joelinton’s foul gave Odegaard a chance he took in fashion to transform the winner.

Arsenal crew vs Newcastle

Arsenal made adjustments to their beginning facet from the 1-0 win over Milan on Wednesday, with Christian Norgaard – signed from Brentford for a payment of as much as £15 million – on the bench this time.

Martin Zubimendi, who arrived from Real Sociedad for £60m on July 6, was of their line-up, as was fellow Spain midfielder Mikel Merino.

Noni Madueke joined for an preliminary £48m from Chelsea final week however was not concerned as a result of the England ahead is being allowed further relaxation time following his involvement within the 2025 Club World Cup.

Former Spain worldwide Kepa Arrizabalaga, who stays the world’s most costly goalkeeper because of the £72m payment Chelsea paid Athletic Club for him in 2018, has additionally signed for £5m from the Blues and was on the bench.

Kepa made three saves in a pre-arranged penalty shootout in opposition to Milan, though Arsenal misplaced 6-5.

Gabriel Jesus stays out with a knee harm sustained in January however the striker has posted Instagram updates exhibiting him working within the health club.

Arsenal beginning XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Zubiendi, Nwaneri; Saka, Trossard, Havertz

Arsenal substitutes: Kepa, Setford, Rojas-Fedorushchenko, Nichols, Salmon, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Norgaard, Lokonga, Copley, Rice, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia, Nelson, Martinelli

Newcastle crew vs Arsenal

Newcastle introduced within the likes of Tonali and Gordon, whereas new signing Seung-Soo Park – a highly-rated 18-year-old South Korean ahead – was of their matchday squad for the primary time.

A former Derby County loanee from the Blades, Osula is but to begin a Premier League recreation, though he scored his first top-flight objective in opposition to Ipswich Town in April and has been prolific for Denmark at Under-21 degree.

Newcastle beginning XI: Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Burn, A Murphy; Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock; Elanga, Osula, Gordon

Newcastle substitutes: Vlachodimos, Ruddy, Botman, Schar, Targett, Krafth, Livramento, Ashby, Joelinton, Miley, Harrison, Hernes, Munda, Barnes, Seung-soo Park, J Murphy, Neave

Arsenal pre season fixtures 2025/26

July 31 vs Spurs (Hong Kong)
August 5 vs Villarreal (H)
August 9 vs Athletic Club (H)

Newcastle pre season fixtures 2025/26

TBC July/August vs Ok-League Select XI (South Korea)
TBC July/August vs Spurs (South Korea)
August 9 vs Atletico Madrid (H)

When does Arsenal’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin?

The first spherical of Premier League matches in 2025/26 will likely be on the weekend of August 16 2025, together with Arsenal’s journey to Manchester United on Sunday, August 17 at 16:30 BST.

The recreation in opposition to the 2024/25 Europa League finalists is being proven dwell within the UK on Sky Sports Premier League, Ultra and Main Event.

The final spherical of matches this season will all begin on the similar time on May 24 2026. No rounds will happen inside 60 hours of one another and there will likely be no fixture on December 24.

When does Newcastle’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin?

Newcastle’s opening journey to Aston Villa is on Sunday, August 17 at 12:30 BST.

The recreation in opposition to the Villans, who Newcastle pipped to a spot on this season’s Champions League, will likely be proven dwell within the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.