Martin Ødegaard scored a crucial penalty in the 85th minute during a thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle United in Singapore, shortly after signing Viktor Gyökeres for €63 million (approximately $74 million).
After undergoing medical checks in London on Saturday, Gyökeres traveled directly to Asia and joined excited fans at the Singapore National Stadium.
The new addition watched as his team maintained a perfect record during their tour, triumphing in a hard-fought match under humid conditions.
Newcastle started strong, taking the lead just six minutes in. Sandro Tonali advanced down the right and delivered a cross that wasn’t properly defended by Anthony Elanga. The £55 million recruit from Nottingham Forest managed to score despite a deflected shot, putting Newcastle ahead.
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Arsenal came alive shortly after the 30-minute mark. Mikel Merino received a pass from Joe Wilk and set up Leandro Torosard, who found Kai Hubbard in the box. His flick allowed Merino to score his first with a low finish.
Just two minutes later, Arsenal took the lead. Torosard sent in a low cross from the left, which Alex Murphy inadvertently put into his own net while trying to clear it.
Before halftime, Arsenal faced a scare as Riccardo Carafioli was substituted due to a fitness issue.
Arsenal brought in Martin Ødegaard for Ethan Nwaneri during a break, while Newcastle made nine changes, keeping only Nick Pope and William Osla in the lineup.
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Bukayo Saka had a spectacular bicycle kick saved by Pope as Arsenal pressed for more, but it was Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy who next found the net with a long-range strike past Raya.
Max Douman made his second appearance of the tour off the bench, challenging Pope with multiple shots, including a long-range effort from Ødegaard that required another save.
The 15-year-old Douman then made a significant contribution when his run into the box earned a penalty for Ødegaard to convert and secure the victory.
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Pope made another excellent save from Harrison Ashby as the match drew to a close, but Arsenal secured a deserved win.
Next, Arsenal will head to Hong Kong for the final leg of their Asian preseason tour, facing Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, while Newcastle will continue to Korea to play against the All-Star K League team.
Fan Take: This news highlights the fierce competition in the Premier League as teams bolster their squads for the upcoming season. The performances in these preseason matches set the stage for an exciting race for the title, and fans are eager to see how new signings like Gyökeres will impact their teams.
