Martin Odegaard secured a 3-2 victory for Arsenal with a composed 84th-minute penalty against Newcastle in an action-packed pre-season friendly at Singapore’s National Stadium on Sunday.
Before kickoff, Arsenal fans welcomed their new signing, Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who joined from Sporting Lisbon. Though he didn’t feature in the match, the 27-year-old was introduced to the crowd of over 38,700 and is expected to make his debut against Tottenham in Hong Kong next Thursday.
The Magpies struck first in the sixth minute through Anthony Elanga, who converted a Sandro Tonali cross into the bottom corner. Arsenal responded strongly, finding an equaliser in the 33rd minute through Mikel Merino after a clever flick by Kai Havertz.
Just two minutes later, Arsenal took the lead when Newcastle’s Alex Murphy turned the ball into his own net under pressure.
Arsenal looked likely to extend their lead after the restart, especially after Bukayo Saka’s acrobatic attempt, but a superb save by Nick Pope denied the third. Newcastle levelled unexpectedly when substitute Jacob Murphy fired in a long-range effort past David Raya.
The match seemed destined for a draw until 15-year-old Max Dowman was brought down in the box by Joelinton. Odegaard stepped up and calmly converted the penalty to clinch the win for Arsenal, marking their second pre-season victory in Singapore after defeating AC Milan 1-0.
Reflecting on the result, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said, “Playing against Newcastle today wasn’t just a friendly. It was a real test. 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.”
What You Should Know
Martin Odegaard continues to play a pivotal role as Arsenal’s midfield leader. His match-winning penalty not only highlighted his composure under pressure but also reinforced Arsenal’s pre-season form.
The introduction of Viktor Gyokeres adds firepower to Arteta’s squad, with expectations high as the team gears up for the new season.
