1. FT: Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
2. That’s the end of this live text. Thanks for joining me this afternoon.
4. FT: Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
5. Newcastle led early on through Anthony Elanga but Arsenal were 2-1 up at the break thanks to goals from Mikel Merino and an Alex Murphy own goal.
6. Jacob Murphy equalised for Newcastle but Arsenal won thanks to Martin Odegaard’s late penalty after 15-year-old Max Dowman was fouled.
8. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
9. It’s all over. Arsenal win this friendly and Newcastle lose it.
11. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
12. Arsenal try to get a fourth but Declan Rice’s effort from outside the box is blocked.
14. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
15. Two minutes to go. Can Newcastle equalise to force an utterly pointless shootout?
17. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
18. No yellow cards in the second half.
20. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
21. Newcastle defender Fabian Schar has a go from the edge of the box but it’s saved by Kepa, who remains the most expensive goalkeeper ever.
23. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
24. Four minutes added on.
26. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
27. Good chance for Newcastle to equalise. The ball comes to Harrison Ashby, in space in the box eight yards out, but his shot is straight at Kepa, who claws it over the bar.
29. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
30. Toon move breaks down as Lewis Miley gets his ball into the box wrong.
32. Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
33. Here come Newcastle. Can they force penalties? Jacob Murphy’s cross goes over everyone’s head.
35. Martin Odegaard
36. The referee makes Martin Odegaard start his run-up again but it doesn’t put him off.
37. John Ruddy goes the right way but can’t keep his penalty out.
38. Image source, Reuters
40. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
41. Martin Odegaard to take.
43. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
44. Max Dowman has been excellent since coming on. He runs into the box and is clipped by Joelinton. Arsenal have a penalty.
46. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
47. Arsenal were slower to make changes than Newcastle but they have a good few youngsters on now including two 15-year-olds.
48. Image source, Getty Images
50. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
51. Arsenal keeper Kepa gives the ball to Lewis Miley, whose long-range effort is off target.
53. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
54. Max Dowman has his second chance of the game for Arsenal and his effort is well saved by John Ruddy. Ruddy had played for about 10 clubs by the time Dowman was born.
56. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
57. Martín Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Leandro Trossard, Ben White and William Saliba came off.
59. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
60. Christian Norgaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko are on too.
62. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
63. Marli Salmon is 15 too, like Max Dowman.

Page 2

1. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
2. Arsenal bring on youngsters Andre Harriman-Annous, Marli Salmon and Josh Nicols.
4. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
5. Goalkeeper John Ruddy, 38, joined Newcastle last summer but hasn’t made a competitive appearance yet.
7. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
8. Newcastle bring on John Ruddy and Sean Neave for Nick Pope and William Osula.
10. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
11. Martin Odegaard slams a shot in from almost 25 yards, palmed away by Nick Pope.
13. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
14. Big chance for Arsenal’s 15-year-old Max Dowman. He bursts away from Newcastle’s defence and then shoots towards the bottom corner from 20 yards. Well saved by Nick Pope.
16. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
17. Looks like a groin problem for Sven Botman, whose Newcastle career has been riddled by injuries.
18. Image source, Getty Images
20. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
21. Harrison Ashby replaces Sven Botman for Newcastle. An injury?
23. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
24. Another dangerous Newcastle cross from the right, this time Tino Livramento, but nobody can get that crucial touch.
26. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
27. Declan Rice replaces Mikel Merino for Arsenal.
29. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
30. Toon almost ahead. Jacob Murphy swings in a tasty cross from the right and Willian Osula nods it just wide from eight yards out. Kepa was worried.
32. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
33. Nick Pope is quick off his line to stop Gabriel Martinelli, who seems to be in the number nine role here. And he was offside anyway.
35. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
36. A good cross comes in from the left for Newcastle but Jacob Murphy fails to make proper contact.
38. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
39. Just hearing this game will go to penalties if it ends in a draw. I obviously didn’t do enough research on the ‘Singapore Festival of Football’.
41. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
42. Max Dowman, who wasn’t born when I started working at the BBC, is involved with a couple of decent touches in the box.
43. Image source, Getty Images
45. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
46. Max Dowman is 15.
48. Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
49. Arsenal bring on Kepa, Max Dowman and Gabriel Martinelli for David Raya, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.
51. Jacob Murphy
52. Newcastle fans will be hoping this means a continuation of the 2024-25 Jacob Murphy.
53. The Newcastle winger hits an effort from a good 22 yards out which bobbles into the bottom corner.
54. Image source, Getty Images
56. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
57. New Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, who was presented to the fans before kick-off, is watching on – in all his Gunners merch.
58. Image source, Getty Images
60. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
61. Bukayo Saka almost scores a bicycle kick! The Arsenal man flies into the air and makes excellent contact but it’s straight at Nick Pope.
63. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
64. That issue doesn’t stop Kai Havertz jumping highest at the back post to head wide from a corner.

Page 3

1. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
2. Kai Havertz is hobbling around after Fabian Schar stands on his foot but he’s OK to play on.
3. Image source, Getty Images
5. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
6. Offside flag goes up against Kai Havertz so it excuses how poor his cross was.
8. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
9. Always takes ages to actually detail all the subs in a pre-season friendly.
11. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
12. The Newcastle players to come on were Livramento, Krafth, Schar, Botman, Targett, Jacob Murphy, Miley, Joelinton and Barnes.
14. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
15. Bukayo Saka cuts in from the right and has a shot blocked.
17. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
18. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard glides into the box and has a shot saved by Nick Pope. That’s his first save I think.
20. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
21. Newcastle made nine changes at half-time. Only Nick Pope and William Osula stayed on.
24. Alex Howell
25. BBC football news reporter in National Stadium, Singapore
26. A worry for Mikel Arteta, defender Riccardo Calafiori has limped off early into the second half.
27. He is replaced by Jakub Kiwior and Calafiori heads straight down the tunnel.
29. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
30. And they’ve just made a second with Riccardo Calafiori picking up a knock and Jakub Kiwior taking his place.
32. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
33. Just the one for Arsenal, with captain Martin Odegaard replacing Ethan Nwaneri.
35. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
36. No actual details from either side on the half-time changes yet, hence my vagueness.
38. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
39. Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes, another new introduction, has a pass cut out.
41. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
42. Kai Havertz is flagged offside from a ball by Martin Odegaard, one of those changes.
44. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
45. Second half is under way. Plenty of changes.
47. HT: Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
48. Wonder how many subs we’ll see at half-time.
50. HT: Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
51. Martín Zubimendi was booked in that first half it emerges.
53. HT: Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
54. Newcastle had three shots on target to Arsenal’s one in that first half.
56. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
57. Newcastle led thanks to Anthony Elanga but Mikel Merino equalised for Arsenal before Alex Murphy’s own goal.
58. Image source, Getty Images
60. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
61. Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles is booked for stopping David Raya from throwing the ball out.
63. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
64. Three minutes added on.

Page 4

1. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
2. Arsenal make a mess of playing it out from the back but get away with it.
4. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
5. Joe Willock fouls William Saliba while trying to get past him and through on goal.
7. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
8. Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cross from deep is easily caught by Nick Pope.
10. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
11. Sandro Tonali tries to clip a ball over the top for Kieran Trippier but the England veteran can’t control it.
14. Alex Howell
15. BBC football news reporter in National Stadium, Singapore
16. Bukayo Saka is giving Alex Murphy a tough time down Arsenal’s right side.
17. It’s a tough few minutes for the 21-year-old who is having to deal with Saka running at hime repeatedly after putting the ball in his own net.
19. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
20. Newcastle’s first chance in a while. Anthony Gordon does a give-and-go with Joe Willock and shoots over.
22. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
23. Good punch by Nick Pope to stop Bukayo Saka’s corner landing on the head of Riccardo Calafiori six yards out.
25. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
26. Brilliant first touch by Bukayo Saka, who fools Alex Murphy with his turn but the Irishman recovers to block his shot.
28. Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
29. Now it’s all Arsenal and Leandro Trossard is almost in but he’s stopped.
31. Alex Murphy own goal
32. Whoops.
33. Kai Havertz swings in a handy cross from the left which goes past Nick Pope and Alex Murphy gets it all wrong and slams the ball into his own net.
35. Mikel Merino
36. Mikel Merino scores against his former club and Arsenal are level.
37. The Spanish midfielder passes the ball into the bottom corner from 16 yards from Kai Havertz’s flick.
38. Image source, Reuters
40. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
41. Back under way (again).
43. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
44. Right what I said was a drinks break was actually an unofficial one while a couple of players were getting treatment.
45. Three minutes later there’s an official one.
47. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
48. Ethan Nwaneri clips a free-kick over everyone’s head and straight out of play.
50. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
51. Bukayo Saka gets past one or two defenders in the box but is tackled by the third.
53. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
54. Back under way.
55. Image source, Getty Images
57. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
58. Little drinks break as the managers talk to their players. It’s 30C in Singapore.
61. Alex Howell
62. BBC football news reporter in National Stadium, Singapore
63. Mikel Arteta is not happy in the technical area.
64. He is waving at both the ref and the assistant as Bukayo Saka is down injured and he thinks Arsenal should have a foul.
65. Saka is now getting treatment on the pitch.
67. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
68. Sandro Tonali getting an ice pack to the head after a knock. I guess makes more sense than the physios having a bag of peas in their bag.
71. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
72. Anon: If Arteta can manage to get Gyokeres and Havertz playing together then Arsenal could just achieve a 2nd place finish or at least 3rd.

Page 5

1. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
2. David Raya takes far too long on the ball and Anthony Gordon almost closes him down. The keeper ends up kicking the ball out for a Newcastle throw.
4. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
5. Anthony Elanga doesn’t make great contact with a long-range volley and Arsenal have the ball.
7. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
8. “Myles Lewis-Skelly has clearly been to the gym,” says the Arsenal commentator.
10. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
11. Wiliam Osula runs away down the right and squares the ball for Sandro Tonali, whose effort from just outside the box is parried away by David Raya.
13. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
14. Jamaal Lascelles hasn’t played a competitive game since March 2024 when he suffered a bad knee injury.
16. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
17. Good header out by Jamaal Lascelles to deal with Martin Zubimendi’s cross.
19. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
20. Leandro Trossard sends Bukayo Saka away with a fantastic ball over the top. Saka goes wide and then cuts in past Dan Burn. The ball bobbles around and Ben White blasts a shot over from 14 yards.
22. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
23. Arsenal keeper David Raya gets away with one with a misplaced pass from near the centre circle.
24. Fellow Spaniard Kepa will provide his competition this season.
27. get involved#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
28. Andy, Wallingford: At £280k/week Kai Havertz is set to become one the highest paid substitutes when the PL kicks off.
30. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
31. Another slick Magpies move and Sandro Tonali’s effort from 20 yards out is a bit weak and saved easily by David Raya.
33. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
34. Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, playing very high up the pitch, plays a low cross which is half-cleared out to Leandro Trossard but the Belgian’s effort is blocked by Dan Burn.
36. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
37. First chance for Arsenal but non-Swede Kai Havertz heads over. Where will the German fit in this season now that the Gunners have a proper striker?
39. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
40. Why is every player I seem to have discussed today Swedish?
42. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
43. Newcastle have completed the £55m signing of Nottingham Forest and Sweden winger Anthony Elanga a couple of weeks ago.
45. Anthony Elanga
46. Newcastle’s summer signing Anthony Elanga is on the scoresheet.
47. Good passing move from the Toon and Sandro Tonali pulls the ball across. Elanga scuffs his shot and it goes above David Raya, who had probably made his move for a clear strike of the ball.
48. Image source, Reuters
50. Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
51. Arsenal are wearing a blue away kit. Newcastle in black and white. Feels like blue clashes more than red would but what do I know.
53. Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
54. Not the best corner from Arsenal and Newcastle clear.
56. Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
57. Arsenal have about 99% possession so far. Based on my eyes, no actual stats.
59. Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
60. Arsenal play the ball straight back to David Raya, who pumps the ball up the field – onto the head of a Newcastle defender.
62. Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
63. This game in the ‘Singapore Festival of Football’, whatever that is, is under way.

Page 6

Arsenal v Newcastle (12:30 BST)

One summer signing in the Arsenal XI – Martin Zubimendi – with another two on the bench – Kepa and Christian Norgaard.

Viktor Gyokeres doesn’t feature in this one.

William Osula starts up front for Newcastle in the absence of Alexander Isak.

Summer signing Anthony Elanga features too, as does Irish defender Alex Murphy – who ended last season on loan at Bolton.

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

Subs: Kepa, Setford, Rojas, Nichols, Salmon, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Norgaard, Lokonga, Copley, Rice, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia.

Newcastle XI: Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Burn, A Murphy, Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock, Elanga, Osula, Gordon.

Subs: Vlachodimos, Ruddy, Botman, Schar, Joelinton, Barnes, Targett, Krafth, Livramento, J Murphy, Ashby, Harrison, Hernes, Miley, Munda, Neave, Park.