Oman today_ In a friendly match dominated by Arsenal’s superior performance, the English side secured a narrow 1–0 victory over AC Milan. Although the final scoreline was low, the flow of the game was clearly in Arsenal’s favor from start to finish.
From the opening minutes, Mikel Arteta’s side took control of possession with precise passing and consistent pressure. The only goal of the match came in the 53rd minute, when Jakub Kiwior delivered a cross from the left flank, setting up Bukayo Saka in a one-on-one situation. Saka calmly slotted the ball past the Milan goalkeeper.
Milan, under the guidance of new head coach Massimiliano Allegri, adopted a noticeably different approach compared to previous outings. Lining up with a back three consisting of Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw, and Pavlović, the Italian side aimed for a compact defensive setup. Rafael Leão was deployed as the central striker, supported on the flanks by Christian Pulisic and Alexis Saelemaekers. While Milan managed to maintain defensive structure, they struggled to produce any real attacking threat or organized counterattacks.
One of the few highlights for Milan was the performance of goalkeepers Marco Sportiello (Tračano) and Lapo Nava (Turiani), both of whom made key saves to keep the deficit at one. Turiani, in particular, impressed in the second half with several consecutive stops, preventing the scoreline from widening.
In the second half, Allegri introduced a number of substitutions, giving nearly all of the young players an opportunity to feature. Despite injecting fresh energy into the lineup, these changes failed to shift the balance of the game. Arsenal continued to create danger, with efforts from Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, and Riccardo Calafiori testing Milan’s defensive resilience. Key interventions from Tomori, Thiaw, and Pavlović, along with further saves from the keeper, kept the score close.
Milan’s only real scoring opportunity came in the first half, when Leão squandered a promising chance. Aside from that, the team struggled to create anything meaningful in the final third. Statistically, the contrast was stark: Arsenal recorded 23 shots on goal compared to Milan’s mere two.
Overall, the match highlighted Arsenal’s current level of cohesion, planning, and tactical clarity. Meanwhile, Milan—still adapting to Allegri’s new system—appears to be in a rebuilding phase with considerable work ahead. For Allegri, this friendly served as a valuable test to identify weaknesses and prioritize tactical improvements moving forward.
Arsenal secure 1–0 victory over AC Milan
