Latest news with #2025SingaporeFestivalofFootball
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Striker Viktor Gyokeres and other new signings will help Arsenal end trophy drought: William Saliba
Arsenal's new signing Viktor Gyokeres being unveiled before a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United at the National Stadium on July 27. SINGAPORE – Arsenal fans are not the only ones over the moon about their newest signing Viktor Gyokeres – defender William Saliba is also positive that the Swedish striker will help the Gunners end their trophy drought. After weeks of relentless buzz, the English Premier League giants signed the 27-year-old goal machine from Sporting Lisbon for a reported £55 million (S$94.9 million) and unveiled him to rapturous applause before their 3-2 friendly win over Newcastle United at the National Stadium on July 27. Saliba is only too glad that Gyokeres – who plundered 54 goals in 52 matches last season and finished second in the 2024-25 European Golden Shoe standings behind Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe – will not be on the opposing side when they next share a pitch. 'We know how good he is and how it's scary to play against him, so of course, I'm happy to have him in my club and I'm sure that he will help us to win games and trophies,' said the 24-year-old French centre-back in an interview after Arsenal beat Newcastle to bring the 2025 Singapore Festival of Football to a close. 'When you face a striker who scores goals, you have to be focused. But now he's in our team, and he'll score for us, so that's good.' Gyokeres, who signed a five-year deal with the Gunners, netted 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, helping them win the Portuguese league title in both of his seasons with the club. He watched from the sidelines as his new teammates put on a winning display at the National Stadium, erasing an early deficit from Anthony Elanga's opener with a quick-fire double from Mikel Merino and an own goal from Alex Murphy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row Asia Gunman kills 5 near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole: BCA to conduct independent probe, act against any non-compliance Singapore Foreign workers who rescued woman from sinkhole given tokens of appreciation Singapore COE quota up 2.6% to 18,701 for August-October period Business SIA's first-quarter profits fall by 59%; airline group sees volatile times ahead Singapore Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty on Aug 4 in case linked to ex-transport minister Iswaran Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose The Magpies equalised in the second half through Jacob Murphy, but skipper Martin Odegaard converted a penalty earned after a surging run by 15-year-old substitute Max Dowman for the Gunners' second win in as many pre-season games. 'It's a good test before the Premier League, because we know when we play against (Newcastle), it's always tough,' said Saliba. The pressure is on the Gunners to deliver a trophy following three runner-up finishes in the Premier League, with their last piece of silverware being the FA Cup in 2020, but Saliba said that such expectations show that they are moving in the right direction. 'Pressure is good, it means we are in a good place, and we need to keep going like this. If we weren't good, we wouldn't have pressure (on us).' Arsenal have spent about £200 million in the summer transfer window with six new acquisitions, having also signed midfielders Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi, defender Cristhian Mosquera, winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Saliba is hopeful that the increased squad depth will translate into silverware, saying: 'We have a lot of new players, so that will help us to hopefully win the league... We are in a good mood and in good shape. 'Our mindset is to win the Premier League and we will give everything from the first game.' On his stay in the Republic, Saliba said: 'Singapore was good – the weather, the food and especially the fans. 'We enjoyed our time here, and I hope we will see you again soon.' Saliba, who joined Arsenal in 2019, has reportedly been a target of Real Madrid, but it seems that the Spanish giants might have to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements. When asked if he was going to renew his Arsenal contract, which ends in 2027, Saliba said that while no concrete moves have been made, there is 'good conversation with the club' and he hopes to stay. The Gunners will next face Tottenham Hotspur in a friendly at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on July 31 in the first north London derby to be played outside Britain, before wrapping up their pre-season preparations with home friendlies against Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao at the Emirates in early August.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
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 Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede, who signed for a reported £55 million (S$94 million), had been announced by the Gunners on July 26, and received rapturous applause from the Arsenal supporters as he strolled out onto the pitch at Kallang in an Arsenal kit with the number 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 new £55 million recruit Anthony Elanga opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but Arsenal responded with 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. Before this match, the Gunners 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 2025 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. Full report to follow.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Saka the difference as Arsenal beat AC Milan at National Stadium
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (in blue) scored the only goal in his side's win over Italian side AC Milan at the National Stadium on July 23. SINGAPORE – Much of the pre-season buzz surrounding Arsenal has centered on their activity in the transfer market and pursuit of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres as the final piece of the jigsaw in their hunt for major honours. At the National Stadium on July 23, though, a graduate of the club's Hale End academy again underscored his status as Arsenal's talisman. England star Bukayo Saka showcased his flair and finesse in front of a crowd of 22,813 fans, and scored the only goal as Arsenal began their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over Italian giants AC Milan. Saka – who received the loudest cheers of the night when the team sheet was announced before kickoff – was handed the captain's armband until club skipper Martin Odegaard was introduced as a half-time substitute. After a goalless first half, Saka was on hand at the right place and right time in the 52nd minute – just as he has on numerous occasions since he debuted for Arsenal in 2018 – to find the net. A whipped in cross from defender Jakub Kiwior picked out Saka, who escaped his marker at the back post before applying a scuffed finish that found its way into the net. The strike drew the loudest decibels of the night from the Arsenal fans – who made up a majority of those in attendance – up on their feet to rejoice as Saka celebrated with his teammates. Saka, who netted 12 goals last season for Arsenal, was then brought off in the 66th minute for 15-year-old Max Dowman – another Hale End product – whom Arsenal fans and Arteta will hope can be the next gem to emerge from the club's academy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes Singapore Male victim of fatal Toa Payoh fire was known to keep many things, say residents Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him Singapore Money, housing and isolation the biggest struggles for youth leaving children's homes: Study Singapore Sota's parents portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts The Milan-Arsenal clash – both sides' first official match of their pre-season – is part of the 2025 Singapore Festival of Football, which is the first instalment in a five-year partnership between promoters TEG Sport and the Singapore Tourism Board that will see top European clubs play in Singapore in 2025, 2027 and 2029. The Gunners faithful will next be able to catch their heroes in the flesh when Arsenal conduct an open training session on July 25, before they face English League Cup champions Newcastle United two days later, both at the National Stadium. The Singapore Festival of Football was last held in July 2023, when Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and German giants Bayern Munich played a series of friendlies at the National Stadium. Bayern beat Liverpool 4-3 in front of a 49,983 crowd then, while 25,095 spectators witnessed Spurs' 5-1 win over Singapore Premier League outfit Lion City Sailors. This is Milan's first visit to Singapore, while Arsenal last came in 2018 for the International Champions Cup, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta named a strong starting line-up that featured debutant German forward Kai Havertz, Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli, French centre-back William Saliba and Christian Norgaard, a summer signing from Brentford. Milan meanwhile had their stars on show too with Portugal winger Rafael Leao captaining a side that included American winger Christian Pulisic and former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori. The opening 45 minutes, however, offered little excitement apart from fleeting moments of brilliance from Saka and the silky footwork of teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri. Arteta then made six changes at half-time with Arsenal finding the eventual winner seven minutes after the break.
