Arsenal edged past Newcastle United with a dramatic 3-2 victory in front of more than 38,700 fans at the National Stadium in Singapore on Sunday evening, thanks to a composed late penalty from Martin Ødegaard.
The pre-season friendly, featuring two top Premier League sides, had no shortage of excitement. It was Newcastle who struck first, stunning the Gunners early. New signing Anthony Elanga wasted no time in making his mark, latching onto a Sandro Tonali cross in just the sixth minute and rifling a shot into the bottom right corner. The goal silenced the Arsenal fans and gave the Magpies a flying start.
Arsenal, however, gradually grew into the match. After weathering Newcastle’s early pressure, the Gunners equalised in the 33rd minute through Mikel Merino, who slotted home a sharp finish following a clever flick from Kai Havertz.
Just two minutes later, Arsenal took the lead. A dangerous low cross into the Newcastle box caused confusion, and young defender Alex Murphy mistakenly turned the ball into his own net, giving Arsenal a 2-1 advantage before the break.
The second half saw Arsenal continue to dominate possession, and Bukayo Saka nearly added a third with a stunning bicycle kick in the 57th minute. But Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope pulled off a brilliant save to keep his side in the game.
That stop proved crucial, as just a minute later, Newcastle equalised against the run of play. Substitute Jacob Murphy unleashed a speculative effort from outside the area that squeezed past David Raya at his near post, drawing the sides level once again.
As the game appeared to be heading for a draw, 15-year-old Arsenal academy talent Max Dowman made a surging run into the box. His burst of pace caught Joelinton off guard, and the Brazilian brought him down, leading the referee to point to the spot.
Martin Ødegaard stepped up with confidence and calmly converted the penalty in the 84th minute, sealing Arsenal’s second win of their pre-season tour following their earlier 1-0 victory over AC Milan.
The thrilling contest not only extended Arsenal’s winning run in Asia but also offered a glimpse into the depth and potential of Mikel Arteta’s squad as the new season approaches.
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