Arsenal claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over AC Milan at the National Stadium in the opening match of the Tridentity Cup, part of the Singapore Festival of Football. The match, a closely fought pre-season encounter, marked the first of two fixtures in the tournament, with the Gunners set to face Newcastle United on 27 July.

AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri addressed the media following the match, emphasizing that despite the defeat, the game served as an important benchmark in his team’s early-season preparations.

“It was a good test,” Allegri said. “We’re only 20 days into our preparation, and to face one of the strongest teams in Europe this early is a good challenge.”

Allegri opted for a 3-5-2 formation, deploying star winger Rafael Leão as a striker in the first half. Asked whether he was satisfied with Leão’s performance in the role, the Milan coach was full of praise.

“Leão did a good match, he did a good job. I’m very happy with his performance,” he repeated. “It’s still early, but the whole team showed good spirit.”

Arsenal’s cohesive style and high-pressing game were on full display, and Allegri acknowledged the difficulties of facing Mikel Arteta’s side.

“They’re a very strong team,” he said. “They’ve had a few excellent seasons, with great players, and to keep up with them for 60 minutes is already a strong performance from Milan.”

One of the standout moments of the match came late in the second half, when 15-year-old Max Dowman made his debut appearance for Arsenal. The teenage midfielder is already drawing attention in England, and Allegri was asked whether Italy had comparable young talents on the rise.

“We also have good young players,” Allegri responded. “Deco Pippa, for example, made a few very good saves today. And Subinane is undergoing medical tests in Milan—we’re looking to integrate him soon. Kateragi also had a solid performance, especially against a player as strong as [Bukayo] Saka.”

Despite the loss, Allegri highlighted his side’s tactical discipline and hinted at improvements to come.

“The team did a lot of work, made a lot of sacrifices,” he said. “It’s the beginning of the season, and maybe some of the open spaces we found today could have been used better. That will come with more training and match time.”

The Italian giants will now continue their preparations ahead of the new Serie A campaign, while Arsenal look ahead to their next test against Newcastle United on 27 July, also at the National Stadium, to round off their participation in the Singapore Festival of Football.

Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Saka, who returned to the pitch in top form after missing the latter part of last season due to a hamstring injury. “Saka showed real power and quality in his position today,” Arteta said. “We’ve worked with him throughout the summer, and it’s clear he’s at a very high level already. He had several great moments. He’s impactful when he’s sharp, and today he showed that.”

Arteta also acknowledged that while the result was encouraging, there remains work to be done. “There are always things to improve. We’re trying to find cohesion, manage minutes, and raise the level of performance across the squad.”

He added that some players are still recovering from injuries, including Gabriel Jesus, and fitness levels are being carefully monitored to avoid setbacks.

Perhaps the most talked-about moment came late in the match when Arsenal introduced 15-year-old Max Dowman, drawing comparisons with England’s most promising young stars. Arteta emphasised the club’s commitment to developing young talent and praised the academy for its pipeline of emerging players.

“I’m very happy with all the kids,” Arteta said. “They’re able to play at this level because of the environment and culture we’ve created. When someone makes you feel comfortable and confident, that’s when you can show your quality. It’s incredible how, at 15 years old, some of them are already performing at this level.”

Arteta also acknowledged the performances of other youngsters like Ethan Nwaneri, Marcelo Flores, George Lewis, and Marley Agyemang, noting their maturity and physical readiness. “They came back from summer looking different—more mature, stronger, better presence,” he said.

“This match gave us a good platform,” Arteta concluded. “Now we have to build on it.”

Photo Credit: @junyiphotography

The 2025 Singapore Festival runs from 23rd to 27th July 2025. More information available here