Arsenal f.c. Vs AC Milan Lineups: Tactical Breakdown of the Singapore Clash

The high-profile meeting between Arsenal F.C. and AC Milan in the summer of 2025 provided a definitive look at how both Mikel Arteta and the then-newly appointed Massimiliano Allegri intended to reshape their respective squads. Held at the Singapore National Stadium, this fixture was more than a mere pre-season friendly; it was a laboratory for tactical experimentation. The starting lineups revealed significant summer recruitment strategies and a shift in structural philosophy for both the Premier League and Serie A giants.

Analyzing the specific Arsenal f.c. vs AC Milan lineups from this encounter offers insight into the transitional phases of both clubs. Arsenal entered the match looking to integrate a blend of established stars and high-potential youth, while Milan debuted a tactical system that leaned heavily on a reinforced defensive spine.

Arsenal's Tactical Setup: The 4-2-3-1 Evolution

Mikel Arteta opted for a familiar 4-2-3-1 shape, but the individual roles within that structure indicated a move toward greater physical presence and ball retention in the middle third. The selection of the starting XI was a statement of intent, prioritizing stability and the integration of new defensive profiles.

The Defensive Unit

David Raya started in goal, maintaining his position as the primary distributor from the back. The back four consisted of Ben White at right-back, William Saliba and the high-profile signing Riccardo Calafiori as the central pairing, and Oleksandr Zinchenko on the left.

The inclusion of Calafiori was particularly noteworthy. Starting as a left-sided center-back, his role was to provide aggressive recovery runs and elite progressive passing. During the first half, the interaction between Calafiori and Zinchenko showed a fluid rotation; when Zinchenko inverted into the midfield pivot, Calafiori widened his positioning to cover the left channel, effectively creating a temporary three-man buildup phase.

The Midfield Engine Room

The midfield trio featured Christian Nørgaard, Declan Rice, and the academy standout Ethan Nwaneri. Nørgaard’s inclusion as a defensive screen allowed Rice more freedom to operate as a traditional box-to-box midfielder (Number 8). This setup aimed to solve the balance issues seen in the previous season, providing a dual-pivot security when defending transitions.

Ethan Nwaneri, playing in the advanced playmaker role (Number 10), was the creative hub. His ability to receive the ball between the lines was tested against Milan’s compact low block. The lineups suggested Arteta was ready to trust youth in high-stakes creative roles, moving Martin Ødegaard to the bench for the initial phase of the match to evaluate squad depth.

The Attacking Trident

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli occupied the wings, providing width and isolated 1-v-1 opportunities against Milan’s wing-backs. Kai Havertz led the line as the focal point. Havertz’s role was less about traditional goal-scoring and more about dragging Milan’s center-backs out of position to create space for Saka and Martinelli’s diagonal runs.

AC Milan's Structural Shift: Allegri's 3-5-2

Massimiliano Allegri’s return to the Milan dugout brought an immediate shift in formation. The AC Milan lineups for this Singapore clash confirmed the move to a three-man defense, a system designed to maximize the athletic profiles of their center-backs and the offensive output of their star wingers in more central areas.

The Three-Man Backline

Pietro Terracciano, a summer acquisition, started in goal. The defensive trio featured Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw, and the marquee signing Strahinja Pavlović. This lineup prioritized physicality. Pavlović, positioned on the left of the three, was tasked with neutralizing Bukayo Saka’s inside cuts. The synergy between these three was the focus of the first half, as they maintained a disciplined line that limited Arsenal to long-range efforts and speculative crosses.

Wing-Backs and Midfield Density

Alexis Saelemaekers and Davide Bartesaghi functioned as the wing-backs. In possession, they pushed high to join the attack, but their primary duty in the 3-5-2 was to drop back into a five-man defensive line during Arsenal’s sustained periods of pressure.

The central midfield consisted of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuele Ricci, and Yunus Musah. Ricci, debuting for the Rossoneri, acted as the deep-lying playmaker, responsible for shifting the point of attack. Musah and Loftus-Cheek provided the verticality, using their ball-carrying ability to transition from defense to attack rapidly. This specific midfield configuration was designed to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm through physical duels and high-intensity pressing in the central corridor.

The Forward Partnership

Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão were deployed as a front two, though their roles were highly fluid. Rather than staying central, Leão frequently drifted to the left flank to exploit the space behind Ben White, while Pulisic operated as a second striker, looking for pockets of space created by Havertz’s movements at the other end. This partnership was Milan’s primary outlet, relying on individual brilliance to create chances in a match where Arsenal dominated possession.

First-Half Analysis: Battle of Systems

The lineups dictated the flow of the opening 45 minutes. Arsenal’s 4-2-3-1 focused on positional play and overload on the flanks, while Milan’s 3-5-2 emphasized defensive solidity and quick breaks.

Nwaneri was the standout performer in the early stages, nearly breaking the deadlock with a low drive that forced a save from Terracciano. The tactical battle between Saka and Pavlović was a highlight; the Serbian defender’s physicality initially matched Saka’s agility, illustrating why Allegri chose a back three to provide extra cover in wide areas. On the opposite side, Saelemaekers was kept busy by the overlapping runs of Zinchenko and the directness of Martinelli.

Despite Arsenal's 65% possession in the first half, the Milan lineup proved difficult to penetrate. The central defensive trio remained compact, forcing Arsenal to play in front of them rather than behind. The closest Milan came was through Saelemaekers, who found space on the edge of the area but failed to hit the target, showing that while the defensive structure was sound, the offensive chemistry was still a work in progress.

Second-Half Rotations: Depth and Young Talents

In typical pre-season fashion, the lineups underwent drastic changes at the interval. These substitutions were crucial in deciding the outcome and showcased the depth available to both managers for the 2025/26 season.

Arsenal’s Mid-Game Adjustments

Mikel Arteta introduced several key players at the start of the second half:

Kepa Arrizabalaga replaced David Raya.
Jakub Kiwior came on for Riccardo Calafiori.
Martin Zubimendi made his debut, replacing Nørgaard.
Martin Ødegaard took over from Nwaneri.
Leandro Trossard replaced Martinelli.

The introduction of Zubimendi and Ødegaard immediately increased Arsenal’s vertical passing accuracy. It was Jakub Kiwior, however, who provided the decisive tactical contribution. Operating as a more traditional left-back after the reshuffle, Kiwior delivered a precise cross in the 53rd minute that found Bukayo Saka at the back post. Saka’s finish into the ground broke the deadlock, a goal born from the tactical variation provided by the bench.

Milan’s Response and Debuts

Allegri also utilized his bench extensively, introducing Samuel Chukwueze for Saelemaekers and Noah Okafor for Pulisic at halftime. Later in the half, the young goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani replaced Terracciano. Torriani’s performance was a revelation, making several high-quality saves to deny Mikel Merino and Reiss Nelson, who had entered the fray as late substitutes.

The AC Milan lineup by the 70th minute was significantly younger, featuring players like Comotto, Dutu, and Magni. Despite the lack of experience, this group maintained the defensive organization Allegri had drilled into the squad, preventing Arsenal from doubling their lead.

Youth Integration: The 15-Year-Old Sensations

One of the most talked-about aspects of the Arsenal lineup in the latter stages was the inclusion of 15-year-olds Max Dowman and Marli Salmon. Their introduction in the 66th minute was a clear sign of Arsenal's commitment to their Hale End academy.

Max Dowman, playing on the right wing in place of Saka, showed no signs of intimidation. He immediately engaged in a neat exchange with Ødegaard and forced a defensive block with a sharp shot. His presence changed the dynamic of Arsenal's attack, adding a layer of unpredictability that Milan’s tiring defenders struggled to track. Marli Salmon stepped into the heart of the defense, replacing Saliba, and demonstrated composure beyond his years in his non-competitive debut.

The Penalty Shootout Lineups

As per the tournament regulations in Singapore, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout regardless of the 1-0 scoreline. This provided another look at the psychological makeup of the squads.

Arsenal Penalty Takers:

Martin Ødegaard (Saved)
Martin Zubimendi (Scored)
Mikel Merino (Scored)
Reiss Nelson (Saved)
Jakub Kiwior (Saved)
Max Dowman (Scored)
Leandro Trossard (Scored)
Joshua Nichols (Scored)
Marli Salmon (Missed)

AC Milan Penalty Takers:

Matteo Gabbia (Scored)
Lorenzo Colombo (Saved)
Samuel Chukwueze (Scored)
Mattia Liberali (Saved)
Noah Okafor (Saved)
Vittorio Magni (Scored)
Pietro Terracciano (Scored)
Joshua Nichols (Scored) - Correction: Dutu (Scored)
Christian Comotto (Scored)

The shootout, which Milan won 6-5, highlighted the performance of the substitute goalkeepers. Kepa Arrizabalaga made three saves for Arsenal, all diving to his left, while Milan's young Torriani matched him with crucial stops against Ødegaard, Nelson, and Kiwior. The shootout lineups emphasized the pressure on the younger players, with Salmon’s miss eventually handing the victory to the Italian side.

Legacy of the Lineups: Impact on the 2025/26 Season

Reflecting on these lineups months later, it is evident how much this single match influenced the tactical trajectory of both clubs. For Arsenal, the experiment with Nørgaard and Rice as a physical pivot became a cornerstone for their more difficult away fixtures in the Premier League. The successful integration of Calafiori and the debut of Zubimendi solidified a defensive and midfield rotation that allowed them to compete on multiple fronts.

For AC Milan, the 3-5-2 system showcased in Singapore became Allegri’s primary formation for the first half of the Serie A season. The defensive resilience of the Tomori-Thiaw-Pavlović trio proved to be one of the statistically strongest units in Europe. Moreover, the emergence of Lorenzo Torriani as a viable backup goalkeeper ensured that Milan had reliable depth in a crucial position.

Summary of Starting XIs

To conclude the tactical review, here were the primary formations used during the most competitive phase of the match:

Arsenal (4-2-3-1):

GK: David Raya
DF: Ben White, William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko
MF: Christian Nørgaard, Declan Rice, Ethan Nwaneri
FW: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz

AC Milan (3-5-2):

GK: Pietro Terracciano
DF: Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw, Strahinja Pavlović
MF: Alexis Saelemaekers, Davide Bartesaghi (Wing-backs), Samuele Ricci, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Yunus Musah
FW: Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leão

The clash in Singapore served as a vital precursor to the successes of the 2025/26 campaign. By analyzing the Arsenal f.c. vs AC Milan lineups, fans and analysts alike gain a better understanding of how modern football managers balance the need for immediate results with the long-term goal of squad evolution and youth development.