Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle: Merino and Odegaard help Gunners win in 5-goal thriller

15-year-old Max Dowman steals the show in Singapore as Gunners edge to victory in freindly.

Match Report

Martin Odegaard's late penalty earned Arsenal a 3-2 pre-season win over Newcastle in Singapore - but the headlines will belong to the Gunners' 15-year-old wonderkid Max Dowman.

 

The talented teenager came on at the hour mark and stole the show with some impressive running, before winning a penalty from Joelinton - who is twice his age - after nearly scoring twice himself.

All the talking points beforehand regarding these two teams were the opposing weeks they had in terms of Swedish strikers, with Viktor Gyokeres - presented to the Singapore crowd before kick-off - joining Arsenal in a £63.5m deal, while Alexander Isak expressed his desire to leave Newcastle.

But it was another Swedish forward who made the first impact in this friendly as Anthony Elanga netted his first goal in black-and-white, finishing awkwardly from Sandro Tonali's cross inside the first six minutes.

Arsenal controlled most of the ball but Newcastle continued to be a thorn on the counter-attack as David Raya was forced into good saves from Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.

But the Gunners eventually broke down the Magpies thanks to two assists from Kai Havertz, who might have felt he had a point to prove after Arsenal signed Gyokeres to play in the position he has occupied for much of his time at the club.

The German's first assist saw him lay off for former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino to slot home from the edge of the box, and he then provided a cross which saw Alex Murphy inexplicably put into his own net despite being under no pressure from Bukayo Saka at the far post.Arsenal could have added to their lead as Saka was denied an overhead spectacular strike by Nick Pope, but it was Newcastle who levelled as Jacob Murphy - himself with an impression to make after the £55m signing of Elanga - found the inside of Raya's near post from distance.

Newcastle nearly completed the turnaround as Will Osula - who started in Isak's striker spot - headed a Jacob Murphy cross inches past the far post, while Dowman saw efforts saved by Pope and his replacement John Ruddy.

Dowman eventually made his impressive cameo count as he drive into the box and was felled by Joelinton. The referee pointed to the spot, allowing Odegaard to slot past Ruddy.

The Arsenal captain then told Dowman to take in the applause from the crowd. Following the likes of Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly coming through, the Gunners have another impressive talent in the making.

Match Events

0' Questions for Raya on that Newcastle equaliser! Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle (Murphy)

0' The match is about to start!

0' Match Event for Arsenal vs Newcastle

6' Goal for Newcastle United,scored by Anthony Elanga! Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle

15' Ben White's shot flies to sky

33' MERINO!!!!! Clinical finish! Arsenal 1-1 Newcastle

35' Arsenal score a quick second. OG by Murphy! Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle

56' Spectacular overhead by Saka but Pope saves

68' Osula's header wide out

79' Highlight from Arsenal vs Newcastle

84' Penalty Goal! Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle (Martin Ødegaard)

90' Match Event for Arsenal vs Newcastle

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: Trossard, David Raya, Merino, Havertz, Ben White, Martín Zubimendi, Saliba, Saka, Calafiori, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly

Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Kepa, Zinchenko, Ødegaard, Rice, Nelson, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Martinelli, Kiwior, Tommy Setford, Alexéi Rojas, Louie Copley, Ismeal Kabia, Josh Nichols, Max Dowman, Marli Salmon, A. Harriman-Annous

Newcastle XI: Trippier, Burn, Lascelles, Pope, Guimaraes, Willock, Tonali, Gordon, Anthony Elanga, William Osula, Alex Murphy

Subs: Ruddy, Schar, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Krafth, Targett, J.Murphy, Joelinton, Barnes, Tino Livramento, Sven Botman, Harrison Ashby, A. Harrison, Lewis Miley, Seung-soo Park, Travis Hernes, Anthony Munda, Sean Neave