Friendly preview: Arsenal vs. AC Milan – Team news, opposition insight and how to watch

10 hours ago 48

AC Milan kick off their 2025 Asia-Pacific tour on Wednesday afternoon with a game against Arsenal in Singapore.

Massimiliano Allegri had just shy of two weeks with his new squad at Milanello having taken the job officially last month. On Saturday, the squad and staff flew out to the Far East for a tour that will see them play three games in three countries across two weeks.

The double sessions in the heat of the Milanese sun show that Allegri wants a group that are in top condition physically. Now preparations are going to hit another level, starting with a game against Arsenal.

Team news

Technically, Allegri named his first Milan starting XI since 2014 on Saturday during the lunchtime intra-squad friendly against Milan Futuro. The senior side won that game 3-0, with goals from Davide Bartesaghi, Mattia Liberali and Matteo Gabbia.

This feels more like the real thing, though there are some absences. Youssouf Fofana and Alex Jimenez are not expected to play a part as both have had slight injury problems and will not be risked. The Frenchman and the Spaniard are tipped to be available against Liverpool on Satuday.

Then, there are the players not in the camp for various reasons. Emerson Royal, Ismael Bennacer and Yacine Adli are all waiting for their next clubs, while Luka Modric and Santiago Gimenez are currently on vacation.

Both MilanNews and La Gazzetta dello Sport are reporting that Allegri tried a 4-3-3 in training with Mike Maignan in goal, Fikayo Tomori at right-back, Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic the centre-backs, then Filippo Terracciano at left-back. Bartesaghi could start over the latter, though.

Interestingly, Rafael Leao was deployed as a striker with Christian Pulisic on the left and Alexis Saelemaekers on the right. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Yunus Musah were either side of Samuele Ricci in the midfield.

Predicted Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic, F. Terracciano/Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Musah; Saelemaekers, Leao, Pulisic.

Opposition insight

Arsenal finished second again last season in the Premier League under Mikel Arteta, though they did not push the eventual title winners anywhere near as close as they did Manchester City in 2023-24.

Therefore, there is a bit of pressure being place on Arteta to deliver some silverware, and the Gunners have already been active in the summer transfer window, with more to come.

Kepa Arrizabalaga signed from Chelsea for around €5.8m, while Christian Norgaard joined from Brentford for €11.6m. The headline purchases though are Martin Zubimendi (Real Socieded, €70m) and Noni Madueke (Chelsea, €55m).

Arsenal sign midfielder for £51m from Real Sociedad | Football News | Sky Sports

Viktor Gyokeres is expected to follow that quartet and would be another €70m+ operation, so it would be safe to say the north London club are looking to take the next step and try win some major honours.

According to The Standard, Arteta has taken a 30-man squad out to Singapore for the tour, with Gabriel Jesus missing out due to injury. There is some youth sprinkled in, but with the 2025-26 Premier League season set to begin earlier than the Serie A campaign, a strong side is expected.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.