Arsenal come back to edge Newcastle in pre‑season thriller

Arsenal were tested early by Newcastle  game in Singapore when Anthony Elanga struck in the sixth minute his first goal for the club after a Sandro Tonali cross caused confusion in the box and beat goalkeeper David Raya despite a scuffed finish  

Arsenal vs Newcastle game 

Arsenal regrouped and turned the game on its head just after the half hour mark Mikel Merino won the ball pressed into play and finished coolly from the edge of the area to level before Alex Murphy turned a Trossard cross into his own net to give Arsenal a 2‑1 lead at half time  

 

Newcastle began the second half brightly and Jacob Murphy curled in a long range equaliser in the 58th minute to make it 2‑2  

But the drama came late when 15‑year‑old Max Dowman burst into the box and was felled by Joelinton winning a penalty Martin Ødegaard stepped up in the 85th minute and slotted home for a 3‑2 winning goal 

Key moments that shaped the game

• Elanga’s early strike sent Newcastle ahead on their debut via Tonali’s assist and stunned the crowd

• Merino’s opening goal showed composure and pressing intelligence from midfield

• The own goal from Murphy shifted momentum just before the break

• Jacob Murphy’s equaliser reflected Newcastle’s fightback in the second half

• Dowman’s eye‑catching substitute cameo earned the decisive penalty at just fifteen months off turning sixteen  

• Ødegaard’s penalty underlined captain’s calm in the final stages

Player highlights

Max Dowman emerged as the standout figure despite his age he drew fouls on multiple occasions attempted two shots on target completed several dribbles and earned rave reviews even from Arteta who called him an extraordinary talent at just fifteen 

 

Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Merino formed a dominant Spanish pairing in midfield Zubimendi offered control while Merino delivered the key goal in a display that showed why Arteta is ‘españolizando’ his side this summer 

 

David Raya came under scrutiny following Elanga’s goal with fans calling for Kepa to take over following that early slip while Ødegaard again showed leadership bringing calm to the pressure‑filled finish 

What this result means

Arsenal maintained a perfect pre‑season record winning both initial friendlies and building momentum heading into upcoming matches against Tottenham and Villarreal  

 

Newcastle can take credit for early intensity and returning to level terms but defensive lapses especially the own goal cost them dearly as they aim to sharpen up ahead of tougher opposition in the next fixtures 

Goal timeline

Minute Scorer Team Result

6′ Anthony Elanga Newcastle 0–1

33′ Mikel Merino Arsenal 1–1

35′ Alex Murphy (own goal) Arsenal 2–1

58′ Jacob Murphy Newcastle 2–2

84′ (or 85′) Martin Ødegaard (penalty) Arsenal 3–2

Final thoughts

This game felt more like a high‑stakes rivalry than a friendly thanks to its pace intensity and individual brilliance. Arsenal’s youthful blend of experience and academy promise showed real potential. Max Dowman in particular may be the most exciting young talent to emerge all month. Newcastle gave a spirited display but must tighten defensively if they want to challenge stronger squads. Expect both teams to sharpen as pre‑season continues.

 

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