Arsenal prodigy Max Dowman’s inspired 30-minute cameo helped the Gunners win for the second time in five days as Martin Odegaard’s expert penalty six minutes from time sealed an entertaining win over Newcastle in Singapore.
Anthony Elanga opened his Newcastle account and Jacob Murphy equalised with a precise finish either side of two quickfire Arsenal goals at the Singapore National Stadium, where Viktor Gyokeres – signed by Mikel Arteta’s side for a fee of up to £64 million on Saturday – was introduced to the crowd before kick-off.
Odegaard found the far corner of substitute goalkeeper John Ruddy’s net with an emphatic spot kick after Joelinton pushed Dowman over in an attempt to prevent the 15-year-old from advancing inside the box.
Arsenal vs Newcastle
Having lost 4-0 to Celtic eight days earlier, Newcastle were at their flowing best for the opener, moving play from left to right through Anthony Gordon and William Osula before Kieran Trippier located Tonali with an incisive pass.
Winger Elanga, who signed for £55 million from Nottingham Forest earlier this month, met Tonali’s cross from the right with a scuffed first-time strike to give the Magpies a sixth-minute lead.
Italy playmaker Tonali teed up Elanga’s goal and tested David Raya shortly afterwards by drilling in a low shot that the Arsenal goalkeeper descended to claim.
Gunners defender Ben White then blasted a shot over the crossbar when the ball fell kindly for the former England international inside the box.
Arsenal restored parity when Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz seized on Newcastle losing possession just outside their own box, combining to supply Merino to slot in.
Unfortunate 21-year-old defender Alex Murphy could not readjust quickly enough to avoid firing a Havertz cross from the left into his own net, and Arsenal almost extended their lead when Bukayo Saka’s overhead kick was turned away by Nick Pope at the goalkeeper’s near post 11 minutes after the restart.
That save proved all the more important when Newcastle swiftly equalised, Murphy turning to swing a low, left-footed shot past David Raya at the goalkeeper’s near post from well outside the box on the right.
Max Dowman: Arsenal and England prospect shines
William Osula led the line for Newcastle as one of manager Eddie Howe’s few alternative out-and-out strikers to Alexander Isak, who has not joined their trip to Asia with a purported injury concern and interest from Liverpool.
Osula was unfortunate not to score when the 21-year-old – signed from Sheffield United for £15 million in 2024 – got in front of William Saliba and sent a powerful header wide.
After coming on in the 60th minute, England Under-17 international Dowman charged through a clutch of players and fizzed in a low shot from just outside the penalty area that was turned around a post by Nick Pope.
Pope then parried Martin Odegaard’s drive from long range before Dowman tested Ruddy with an angled shot, but the veteran had no answer after Joelinton’s foul gave Odegaard an opportunity he took in style to convert the winner.
Arsenal team vs Newcastle
Arsenal made changes to their starting side from the 1-0 win over Milan on Wednesday, with Christian Norgaard – signed from Brentford for a fee of up to £15 million – on the bench this time.
Martin Zubimendi, who arrived from Real Sociedad for £60m on July 6, was in their line-up, as was fellow Spain midfielder Mikel Merino.
Noni Madueke joined for an initial £48m from Chelsea last week but was not involved because the England forward is being allowed extra rest time following his involvement in the 2025 Club World Cup.
Former Spain international Kepa Arrizabalaga, who remains the world’s most expensive goalkeeper thanks to the £72m fee Chelsea paid Athletic Club for him in 2018, has also signed for £5m from the Blues and was on the bench.
Kepa made three saves in a pre-arranged penalty shootout against Milan, although Arsenal lost 6-5.
Gabriel Jesus remains out with a knee injury sustained in January but the striker has posted Instagram updates showing him working in the gym.
Arsenal starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Zubiendi, Nwaneri; Saka, Trossard, Havertz
Arsenal substitutes: Kepa, Setford, Rojas-Fedorushchenko, Nichols, Salmon, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Norgaard, Lokonga, Copley, Rice, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia, Nelson, Martinelli
Newcastle team vs Arsenal
Newcastle brought in the likes of Tonali and Gordon, while new signing Seung-Soo Park – a highly-rated 18-year-old South Korean forward – was in their matchday squad for the first time.
A former Derby County loanee from the Blades, Osula is yet to start a Premier League game, although he scored his first top-flight goal against Ipswich Town in April and has been prolific for Denmark at Under-21 level.
Newcastle starting XI: Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Burn, A Murphy; Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock; Elanga, Osula, Gordon
Newcastle substitutes: Vlachodimos, Ruddy, Botman, Schar, Targett, Krafth, Livramento, Ashby, Joelinton, Miley, Harrison, Hernes, Munda, Barnes, Seung-soo Park, J Murphy, Neave
Arsenal pre season fixtures 2025/26
July 31 vs Spurs (Hong Kong)
August 5 vs Villarreal (H)
August 9 vs Athletic Club (H)
Newcastle pre season fixtures 2025/26
TBC July/August vs K-League Select XI (South Korea)
TBC July/August vs Spurs (South Korea)
August 9 vs Atletico Madrid (H)
When does Arsenal’s 2025/26 Premier League season start?
The first round of Premier League matches in 2025/26 will be on the weekend of August 16 2025, including Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United on Sunday, August 17 at 16:30 BST.
The game against the 2024/25 Europa League finalists is being shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League, Ultra and Main Event.
The last round of matches this season will all start at the same time on May 24 2026. No rounds will take place within 60 hours of each other and there will be no fixture on December 24.
When does Newcastle’s 2025/26 Premier League season start?
Newcastle’s opening trip to Aston Villa is on Sunday, August 17 at 12:30 BST.
The game against the Villans, who Newcastle pipped to a place in this season’s Champions League, will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
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