MIKEL ARTETA’S Arsenal maintained their pre-season momentum with a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United in Singapore - as new signing Viktor Gyokeres watched on.
Goals from Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard either side of a Newcastle own goal was , but it was the performance of youngster Max Dowman that really shone.
gave the Magpies the lead in the 6th minute as he shanked a cross off the post and in.
The Gunners fought back and eventually equalised in the 33rd minute through Merino, before immediately snatching the lead through an own goal from Newcastle’s Alex Murphy.
A Murphy struck again to equalise, but this time it was Jacob, striking low into the bottom right from outside the box.
But it was unlikely hero Dowman who would finally help his side put the game to bed, as the 15-year-old won a penalty in the final ten minutes, which was tucked away by Odegaard for the win.
Here’s how SunSport’s Mitchell Hall rated the Gunners’ second clash of their pre-season tour...
David Raya: 4
Raya found himself completely wrong-footed by Elanga’s unusual finish in the fifth minute, there really wasn’t much he could have done.
But he had no excuse for the long ball that he comically a few minutes later, nor the panic he displayed under the press of later on... Nor the goal which he could not quite stop at his near post moments before being substituted.
Maybe a hint of nerves creeping in for the keeper, whose position as Arsenal‘s no.1 could be under threat from Kepa if he does not regain his composure.
Myles Lewis-Skelly: 5
Gave Tonali too much time in open space in the build-up to Newcastle’s opener.
He found himself targeted by the relentless William Osula on the ball, but for the most part he remained calm, only rushing his passes when he got carried away on the counter.
Struggled to make decisions out of possession when tracking the runs of Newcastle’s midfielders and , who got the better of the youngster on the whole.
Ricciardo Calafiori: 6
Calafiori continues to excel in forward areas, despite setting up as a central defender in a back four. He sprayed dangerous balls to the back post and even drifted into the box himself at times.
Arteta is clearly keen to get the most of the defender’s technical brilliance, but playing so advanced leaves an inevitable space in behind which his left-back can struggle to fully cover alone.
Arsenal fans can only hope his injury is not serious as he was substituted soon after the start of the second half.
William Saliba: 7
Did well to manage the physicality of Osula, who offered a very different threat from earlier in the week.
Dominant in the air and typically quick when defending the counters, though he was fortunate to receive a free kick when he tripped over himself as the last man.
He almost got caught out by the run of Osula in the second half, but the Newcastle striker put his powerful header wide.
Ben White: 6
Put a good chance to equalise well over the bar in the opening 15 minutes.
Given what we saw of his direct defending against wingers, it is for the best that White was rarely left isolated in defence.
One suspects thatGordon would have had more joy had he been allowed to run at White one-on-one more often.
Martin Zubimendi: 8
Very neat in the congested areas around the opponent’s penalty area, and one of only a few Arsenal players who did not look harried under Newcastle’s press.
In fact, the 26-year-old looked almost unassailable on the ball, calmly gliding around the middle of the pitch until a pass presented itself.
Despite it being just his second run out since arriving from Real Sociedad earlier in July, he clearly knows his positional duties, drifting across to cover for Calafiori when he pushed up the pitch.
A very assured performance.
Mikel Merino: 7
If we needed a reminder of Mikel Merino’s versatility, we certainly got it today.
The Spaniard won it back high in the 33rd minute before drifting towards the box, where he latched onto a Havertz flick and drilled it into the bottom left corner.
His performance outside of the goal was not particularly impressive, especially on the few occasions where he ceded possession in his own half, but that is the trade off you make for his goal output.
Ethan Nwaneri: 7
The teenager was full of confidence in Arsenal’s previous friendly against Milan earlier in the week.
His link-up with Saka is surely to become a signature of Arsenal this season, clipping the same through ball between the centre-backs to the England international on a couple of occasions.
Newcastle’s willingness to commit two or three players to pressing the midfielder when he was on the ball is a testament to the damage that teams know he is capable of.
Leandro Trossard: 6
His work rate out of possession continues to impress, dropping deep at times to collect the ball and launch attacks, using either his ball-carrying or by launching it into the channel for Saka to chase.
His balls to the back post caused a nuisance for Newcastle, and eventually forced unfortunate youngster Alex Murphy into turning one into his own net.
However, his play in general lacked the cutting edge provided by teammates such as Saka and Nwaneri. Trossard did not strike fear in the defence, but was a safe pair of hands out wide.
Bukayo Saka: 8
Saka stole the show in the Milan game, with his boundless energy and scrappy finish being the difference maker in that match.
He was fortunate to be matched up with the inexperienced Murphy, who blatantly could not keep up with the winger’s trickery in wide areas.
But you can only play against what is put in front of you, and Saka’s willingness to take a man on and switch between cutting inside and taking to the goal-line made him extremely hard to handle.
Only an excellent save denied Saka what would have been an incredible acrobatic goal.
Kai Havertz: 6
must have been feeling the pressure as Arsenal’s new striker signing was in the stadium ahead of the game.
Great movement to earn a free header in the 8th minute, but his wayward header summed up his recent fortunes in front of goal.
He found himself anonymous for large swathes of the first half other than his contributions to the press.
His awareness to delicately flick the ball back into the path of Merino for Arsenal’s first goal was a step in the right direction, however.
SUBS
Martin Odegaard (for Nwaneri 46): 7
Tested almost immediately after his introduction as he darted into the box and lashed a low effort goalwards.
Played a gorgeous through ball to Havertz but his touch let him down before the offside flag was raised.
He dispatched his 84th minute penalty calmly to hand his team the victory.
Jakub Kiwior (for Calafiori 48): 6
Allowed Saliba to do the bulk of the physical defending on Osula while he covered wider areas.
Could not do much to stop Newcastle’s second goal, and was otherwise solid when defending Newcastle’s late crosses.
Max Dowman (for Saka) 60: 9
Full of energy and confidence as he tracked back to help win the ball outside Arsenal’s box, before attempting an audacious roulette on Murphy and winning another foul.
He forced a save from Pope after a brilliant run through the heart of Newcastle’s midfield, weaving between three markers before drilling a shot towards the bottom left. He also tested Ruddy with a powerful shot to the far corner.
His pace and trickery down the right side won his side a game-winning penalty. This 15-year-old stole the show, and might prove to be something special.
Kepa Arrizabalaga (for Raya 60): 6
It was not a particularly hard act to follow for Kepa, as he replaced an uncharacteristically shaky Raya in net.
He added an air of composure to Arsenal’s build-up that helped settle them after a spell on the back foot in the second half.
But even he let himself get closed down under the press, and very nearly handed Lewis Miley an open goal.
Gabriel Martinelli (for Havertz 60): 5
Largely anonymous, but that was in part due to the timing of his introduction coinciding with Newcastle’s increase in possession.
Tried to do too much when he did get on the ball and squandered a couple of chances.
A disappointing display off the bench.
Declan Rice (for Merino 69): 7
His urgency in midfield helped relieve the pressure that was building on his defence in the late stages of the game.
Launched an attack with a quick throw that probably should have resulted in a goal, but Martinelli’s cross could not find an Arsenal shirt.
Christian Norgaard (for Zubimendi 77): 6
Did not have too much time to make an impact but was more porous in the midfield than Arteta would have hoped from his ball-winning midfielder.
His box defending in the scrappy dying moments of the game was solid.
Question marks remain over his pace in Arsenal’s expansive style of play.
Marli Salmon (for Saliba 77): 6
Looked relaxed on the ball when knocking it around at the back.
Held his own under an onslaught of late crosses into the area.
Positioning was questionable at times when running towards his own goal.
Josh Nichols (for White 77): 5
Looked a bit frantic - as he did in his appearance against Milan a few days ago.
Was not suited to the physical battle he faced on the right side of defence, but his recovery pace meant that he could make up for any positional errors.
Andre Harriman-Annous (for Trossard): 6
Showed off his speed and tenacity when he pressed John Ruddy in the Newcastle goal and blocked his clearance.
Was eager to get play started again where possible and was hungry to get into the box as well, good early signs.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Lewis-Skelly 77): 6
Became a leader towards the end of the game as the defence was replaced with younger players.
Was not afraid to get forward while defending a lead and was not caught out, but failed to produce anything dangerous either.
