Arsenal began their 2025/2026 pre-season campaign today, Wednesday, July 23rd, with a high-profile friendly against Italian giants AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore. This highly anticipated encounter marks the first of three matches for the Gunners on their Asian tour, offering fans a glimpse of new signings and Mikel Arteta's tactical plans for the upcoming season.
After securing a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta's side is under increasing pressure to finally clinch silverware. The summer transfer window has seen significant activity for Arsenal, with key new arrivals like Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Christian Norgaard all potentially making their debuts against the Rossoneri. Fans will also be eager to see how existing stars integrate with the new faces and the tactical adjustments Arteta might be implementing.
AC Milan, under the returning Massimiliano Allegri, are also looking to revitalize their fortunes after a disappointing eighth-place finish in Serie A last season. This friendly serves as a crucial part of their own pre-season preparations, with Allegri keen to assess his squad and integrate new strategies.
The match, which kicked off at 7:30 PM local time in Singapore (12:30 PM BST), has generated considerable excitement. For many, it's the first opportunity to see some of Arsenal's new acquisitions in action. While Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres are expected to join the squad later in the tour, the potential debuts of Zubimendi in midfield, Kepa in goal, and Norgaard's presence in the squad adds intrigue.
Young talents like Max Dowman and Marli Salmon have also travelled with the Arsenal squad, hinting at Arteta's willingness to give academy products a chance to impress. On the Milan side, former Chelsea players Christian Pulisic, Fikayo Tomori, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were part of their strong travelling squad, though new signing Luka Modric did not join the tour.
The friendly is being streamed live on Arsenal's official website and app, allowing supporters worldwide to follow the action. It's a vital period for both clubs as they fine-tune their squads and strategies ahead of the demanding 2025/2026 season. While the result of a friendly match is rarely the main takeaway, the performances of individual players and the overall team cohesion will be closely scrutinized by both sets of fans and coaching staff.