Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close

SINGAPORE – Some 38,720 fans were treated to a spectacle between English Premier League sides Arsenal and Newcastle United at the National Stadium on July 27, which saw the star turn of 15-year-old Max Dowman as the Gunners won 3-2.

The game wrapped up the 2025 Singapore Festival of Football, which also featured a game between Arsenal and Italian giants AC Milan on July 23, with the London side winning 1-0.

The crowd on July 27 was a marked improvement from the 22,813 that turned up for the first game, although there were still swathes of empty seats visible. Those who did turn up were treated to an unveiling of new Gunners striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede, who signed for a reported £55 million (S$94 million) on July 26, received rapturous applause from the Arsenal supporters as he strolled out onto the Kallang pitch in a Gunners kit with the No. 14 emblazoned on the back of his jersey.

The action on the pitch, too, was an upgrade from the somewhat plodding football that was on display at times in the Arsenal-Milan game.

Newcastle’s own £55 million recruit Anthony Elanga opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but Arsenal responded with a quickfire double in the 33rd and 35th minutes through Mikel Merino and an own goal from young Newcastle defender Alex Murphy. Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, perhaps playing with a point to prove, created both goals.

Jacob Murphy equalised for Newcastle in the second half with a low shot from outside the box, before Dowman, who had been Arsenal’s brightest spark after coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute, earned a penalty after he was fouled by Joelinton, following a mesmerising run into the box.

Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard coolly converted the spot kick, which proved to be the winner, in the 84th minute.

Post-game, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta gushed about Dowman’s talent, which he labelled “special”.

“To play how he did against this team, in the time he had on the pitch, it’s something certainly not common to witness,” said the Spaniard.

Arteta was also delighted to have welcomed Gyokeres into his squad finally and said the club now have “plans (and) a lot of options” with their new-found depth in attack.

“We’re super happy to have Viktor with us… It was a long journey to get him here, but he’s been incredible (through the process)… You can see the boys, the environment as well, are very excited by his arrival.”

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard scoring the winning penalty. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was buoyed by his team’s overall performance but rued the goals conceded, which he said “weren’t great”.

He again stressed the pressing need for the Magpies to make additions to bolster the squad ahead of a tough season where they will be competing in the Champions League, in addition to domestic competitions.

They are also facing a fight to keep hold of star striker Alexander Isak, who has been heavily linked with a British transfer record move to EPL champions Liverpool.

Howe was also pleased with the test that games like these provide for his team, adding that Newcastle want to reach out to as many fans as possible and add to the support they already enjoy in this part of the world.

In the stands at the National Stadium on July 27 were fans from the Toon Army Asia Alliance, that features supporters from Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan.

Newcastle defender Dan Burn said he was thrilled by the number of black-and-white shirts he saw in the stands.

“I knew that there was going to be a decent support (here), but I wasn’t expecting it to be anything like what we saw. I know the fans have come from all over Asia, so we’re very thankful for all their support,” said the England international.

Fans from the Toon Army Asia Alliance, that features supporters from Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Japan, before last night’s game. PHOTO: NUFC-SG

Before the 2025 Festival of Football, Arsenal last came to Singapore in 2018 for the International Champions Cup, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.

The Magpies, meanwhile, last visited Singapore in since 1996, when a side featuring Faustino Asprilla, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand thumped an S-League All-Stars team 5-0 in front of 41,000 fans at the old National Stadium.

The Singapore Festival of Football is the first instalment in a five-year partnership between promoters TEG Sport and the Singapore Tourism Board that will also see top European clubs play in Singapore in 2027 and 2029.

Arsenal fan Teh Gui Hua, 27, said the match was worth the $198 he paid for his ticket.

“This matchup has always been spicy and I’m glad it lived up to the hype today,” said the engineer.

While he hopes that Arsenal will make their next visit to the Republic soon, he is also looking forward to the likes of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid in future editions of the Festival of Football.

“It’d be great to witness the El Clasico in Singapore,” he added.

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