Ben White and Thomas Partey returned to first team action as Arsenal secured the Dubai Super Cup with a 2-1 win over AC Milan.
The Gunners then added a gloss to the result by winning the gimmicky penalty shootout 4-3 thanks to Karl Hein’s save from Brahim Diaz and Rade Krunic’s miss.
Milan made most of the early running and were unlucky not to take the lead on 11 minutes when ex-Liverpool striker Origi spun Holding before hitting the bar with a curler from the edge of the box.
After weathering a series of corners and struggling with Milan’s press, the Gunners eventually broke the deadlock against the run of play. Nketiah drew a foul on the edge of the box and captain Odegaard found the net with a beautifully precise free-kick that whipped over the Milan wall and inside keeper Tatarusanu’s post. (GOAL 1-0)
Origi should have equalised inside six minutes but his header from an Adli cross bounced just wide.
Vieira was less than impressed when he took an arm to the face from Tonali but he got his revenge moments later, dancing past the Italian to tee up Reiss Nelson whose effort took a deflection off the studs of Odegaard on its way into the back of the net. (GOAL 2-0)
Boosted by the second goal we finished the first half strongly and might well have added another only for Nelson to fizz over on the angle.
After banking a valuable 45 minutes, Partey and White were replaced at the break by Cedric and Elneny.
Milan made a couple of changes of their own and dominated possession in the early stages before Elneny took a grip of the midfield. His zippy passing helped Vieira, Odegaard and Lokonga get more involved and he even had Tatarusanu back-peddling when he fired an effort from range over the bar.
Clearcut chances for either side were few and far between before the players took a breather to take on fluids. The break gave Arteta a chance to send on Marquinhos for Vieira and for Nketiah to quiz the referee as to why he’d been booked after some solid hold-up play. Elneny joined him in the book not long after.
Milan reduced the deficit with 12 minutes remaining when Tomori headed home Tonali’s free-kick (GOAL 2-1) but it was the sight of Gabriel and Tierney both hitting the turf with injuries that felt more concerning. The Brazilian was fine to continue but the Scot was replaced.
There were some half-arsed handbags in the closing stages as Tomori barged through the back of Marquinhos provoking a reaction from Odegaard, Cedric and Gabriel. More academy kids were sent into the fray in the closing stages and they did just enough to see out the win.
The shootout
| Arsenal | AC Milan |
| ✅ Cedric | ✅ Bennacer |
| ✅ Gabriel | ❌ Diaz (save Hein) |
| ✅ Marquinhos | ✅ Tonali |
| ✅ Elneny | ✅ Lazetic |
| ❌ Smith | ❌ Krunic (wide of the post) |
Starting XI: Hein; White (46), Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey (46), Lokonga, Odegaard (c); Vieira (78), Nelson (81), Nketiah (81)
Subs: Graczyk, Foran, Cedric (46), Sousa, Walters, Elneny (46), Cirjan, Smith (90), Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri (90), Cozier-Duberry (81), Sagoe Jr, Marquinhos (78), Butler-Oyedeji (81)
Prove that this is our season.
Yet another trophy than Kane hasn’t won…
hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
I hope the pain of the WC exit has subsided, but does anyone think that England (Or any country) should have a captain that knows what victory feels like? Maybe won anything? At all??
pretty sure kane will age out of the england squad on his own before the next wc so its not really a pressing matter. what is worrying is that someone will probably offer him a punditry job after
I cannot, for the life of me, think of a valid reason why Kane should not get a punditry job.
Every time I come up with an objection, I think of Roy Keane or Robbie Savage or Jermaine Jenas or Danny Murphy and realise that whatever it is is no impediment.
those guys you mentioned, while complete idiots, know how to close their mouths- imagine kane mouth breathing into the mic for an entire show or match
I like Jenas as a pundit
Thanks a lot man. After that latter statement, I can assure you I’m not going to sleep a wink tonight.
Lineker: “So then Harry, that was colourful yet eloquent as always from Wrighty on that controversial penalty decision. What’s your take on it?”
Harry: “Hurr hurr, balls hurr hurr….”*
*Open mouth, simpleton smile with dribble.
Matt Smith: 2 trophies
Harry Kane: 0 trophy
Harry Kane: 330 career goals, 0 goals that mattered
and a mere 300 penalties
Maybe THAT ball will return with a trophy when it’s done orbiting the earth.
Is THAT ball back from orbit yet?
Hurrah!!
That’s a Dubai Super Cup more than Spurs have got.
🍾 🥂 🏆
Just watched this match in O’Hanlons in NY (taking a break during business trip). If u ever get State side- highly recommended venue. Great atmosphere and result!
If we can just carry this form into the remainder of the league..
Good to see Benjamin getting a runout too..
Awesome. Good turnout? Was trying to pop down but work and my manager got in the way.
Their goalkeeper had the best reactions. Not for actually stopping the ball, but his looks of disbelief for both goals was academy award level performance.
Best part of this ‘tournament’ is the practice that hein has been getting, as he looked incredibly shaky in his first outing for the team
And the Dubai Super Cup goes on to Sp*rs’ ever lengthening list of things they haven’t won.
Any updates on Gabriel or Tierney?
Losing KT would be quite a set back given Zinchenko’s continued absence. Fingers crossed Tomi comes back ready to go.
At the moment we’d be looking at Cedric, White, Holding and Tomi as a back 4 for West ham (assuming Saliba is counted out)
Saliba will play.
Big Gabby is fit so I think it would be White, Holding, Gabriel, Tomiyasu. What a stark difference taking Cedric out has on the teams makeup and confidence in the backline
Matt Smith to Harry Kane: “Show us your medals then mate.”
It would indeed be downright hilarious if Kane finished his entire career without a single medal – just like his fellow Spursy loser, Waddle.
Advice for World Cup stars who lost on penalties, after trying something clever and making idiots of themselves: Just look at the pens taken by Cedric, Marquinhos and Elneny. Especially Elneny. Leather it!
Kane tried that…
Actually it reminded me of Baggio who said in an interview he tried to put too much onto that fateful penalty because he was knackered.
Kane tried too hard, and took a shorter run-up. He over-thought it. Elneny hit the position of the postage stamp on an envelope. I don’t care who the goalie is, unless he waits by that post for it, he ain’t saving it. Marquinhos was almost as good.