Arsenal 3 Newcastle United 2 | OneFootball

The Gunners had beaten AC Milan 1-0 at the same venue on Wednesday and came from behind to record another victory here despite Anthony Elanga giving United an early lead.

Elanga was handed his first start for United following his move from Nottingham Forest earlier in the month and marked it with a goal after just six minutes.

It wasn’t the cleanest of finishes from the Swede but the move which led to it was slick, with Sandro Tonali finding Kieran Trippier and then continuing his run. Trippier played in the Italian, who cut the ball back for Elanga to sweep home somewhat unconventionally.

Kai Havertz headed over for the Gunners before, in the 12th minute, a snapshot from Tonali was held by David Raya.

Three minutes later, Benjamin White blazed over when well placed, then in the 19th minute Trippier slid the ball to William Osula who, from the right-hand channel, intelligently picked out Bruno Guimarães but the Brazilian’s shot was parried by Raya.

On a humid evening at the Singapore National Stadium, there was a drinks break on the half-hour mark.

Arsenal equalised shortly after play resumed, with former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino drilling beyond Nick Pope from just inside the box.

Then in the 35th minute, following a quickly-taken free kick, Havertz crossed from the left and the unfortunate Alex Murphy diverted the dangerous delivery into his own net.

Anthony Gordon was off target before the break after linking well with Joe Willock, before Eddie Howe made wholesale changes during the interval with only Pope and Osula re-emerging for the second half.

And Pope made a fine save to keep out a Bukayo Saka bicycle kick in the 57th minute.

Within a couple of minutes, United were back on level terms thanks to Jacob Murphy. He received the ball from Tino Livramento, turned and sized up his options before drilling a left-footed effort past Raya.

Then in the 67th minute, Murphy crossed brilliantly from the right for Osula to head inches wide.

Pope made another good save in the 71st minute to push away a shot from Max Dowman, diving to his right to push behind after a strong run from the Arsenal teenager.

And he flew to his left to keep out a strike from Martin Ødegaard moments later – shortly before making way for John Ruddy.

Ruddy was called into action in the 78th minute, palming away another effort from Dowman.

Lewis Miley was unfortunate to see a lobbed effort drift over the bar after Sean Neave had forced replacement keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into a poor clearance, then Murphy came close to a second but his shot went wide.

Arsenal won the game when Joelinton was adjudged to have brought down Dowman, allowing Ødegaard to score from the spot - although Harrison Ashby nearly levelled at the death, but was denied by Arrizabalaga.

Newcastle United: Nick Pope (John Ruddy 73), Kieran Trippier (Tino Livramento 46), Jamaal Lascelles (Sven Botman 46, Harrison Ashby 70), Sandro Tonali (Joelinton 46), Anthony Gordon (Harvey Barnes 46), William Osula (Sean Neave 73), Anthony Elanga (Jacob Murphy 46), Joe Willock (Fabian Schär 46), Dan Burn (Emil Krafth 46), Alex Murphy (Matt Targett 46), Bruno Guimarães (c) (Lewis Miley 46)

Subs not used: Odysseas Vlachodimos, Alfie Harrison, Travis Hernes, Anthony Munda, Seung-soo Park