Martin Odegaard scored the decisive penalty in the 84th minute as Arsenal edged Newcastle 3-2 in a thrilling pre-season friendly in Singapore on Sunday.
Newly signed striker Viktor Gyokeres, who joined from Sporting Lisbon just a day earlier, was introduced to the crowd of over 38,700 before kickoff. The Swedish forward watched from the bench as Arsenal secured the win in the sweltering Singapore heat.
Gyokeres, 27, could make his debut next Thursday when Arsenal face Tottenham in another friendly in Hong Kong.
“We are continuously improving the quality of the squad, so we’re delighted to have Viktor with us,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “It’s been a long journey to get him here.”
Newcastle, missing striker Alexander Isak who is currently considering his future, struck first within six minutes. New signing Anthony Elanga fired a powerful shot into the bottom corner after a cross from Sandro Tonali.
Arsenal recovered from the early setback, gaining control and rhythm. Mikel Merino equalised for the Gunners in the 33rd minute, finishing from a flick-on by Kai Havertz. Just two minutes later, Arsenal took the lead when Newcastle defender Alex Murphy inadvertently scored an own goal.
Early in the second half, Newcastle almost conceded a third, but goalkeeper Nick Pope made a spectacular save to deny Bukayo Saka’s bicycle kick.
Against the run of play, substitute Jacob Murphy levelled for Newcastle with a curling strike from outside the box.
With the match heading towards a draw, 15-year-old Max Dowman’s determined run into the box was halted by a foul from Joelinton. Odegaard calmly converted the resulting penalty to seal Arsenal’s victory.
This win follows Arsenal’s 1-0 triumph over AC Milan, marking their second consecutive victory in Singapore.
“Playing Newcastle wasn’t just a friendly; it was a real test,” Arteta reflected. “It allowed us to raise our competitiveness and physical intensity. We still need to improve on how we compete, understand our positions, and show the will to win.”
AFP
