Martin Odegaard struck a late penalty in the 84th minute to hand Arsenal a dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle United in a lively pre-season clash at Singapore’s National Stadium on Sunday evening.
In a match played under humid conditions before a crowd of more than 38,700, the Gunners overcame an early scare and a spirited Magpies fightback to make it two wins from two on their Southeast Asia tour.
The game also featured the unveiling of Arsenal’s latest signing, Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker, acquired from Sporting Lisbon just a day earlier, was introduced to fans before kick off but remained on the bench.
His highly anticipated debut could come next Thursday in Hong Kong when Arsenal take on fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
“We’re super happy to have Viktor with us,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said post-match. “It’s taken a long time to bring him here, but he’s going to add real quality.”
Newcastle took just six minutes to make their mark, with new boy Anthony Elanga firing home a low finish after Sandro Tonali’s sharp cross—his first goal since joining from Nottingham Forest.
Despite a sluggish start, Arsenal soon found their rhythm. Midfielder Mikel Merino brought the sides level in the 33rd minute, converting from close range after Kai Havertz’s clever flick.
Just moments later, misfortune struck the Magpies when defender Alex Murphy deflected a loose ball into his own net, gifting the Gunners a 2-1 lead.
After the interval, Bukayo Saka nearly produced a moment of magic with a stunning bicycle kick, only for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope to make a brilliant reflex save.
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The miss proved costly when substitute Jacob Murphy found space outside the box and rifled a low shot past David Raya to draw Newcastle level again in the 58th minute.
With the match finely balanced and seemingly drifting toward a draw, it was 15-year-old academy talent Max Dowman who injected fresh energy and purpose.
Making a surging run into the penalty area, the teenager was brought down by Joelinton—prompting the referee to point to the spot.
Captain Martin Odegaard stepped up with calm assurance, slotting the penalty beyond Pope and securing the win for the North London club.
“This wasn’t just a friendly, it was a real test,” said Arteta. “Games like this raise the level of competition and help us prepare for what’s coming. We’re improving, but there’s still work to do.”
Arsenal will now shift focus to their next challenge in Hong Kong, while Newcastle return to Europe facing questions—both about their defensive frailties and the uncertain future of striker Alexander Isak, who was absent from the squad.
For Arsenal, the victory offered more than just a morale boost, it showed their growing depth, a glimpse of youthful promise, and the impact of new arrivals yet to even kick a ball.