Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle
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Arsenal's Declan Rice signing autographs for fans at W Singapore hotel on July 20.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
- Arsenal's arrival in Singapore for their pre-season tour excited fans, who eagerly sought autographs and photos with players and manager Mikel Arteta.
- Dedicated supporters, like Amanpreet Singh, are fully committed to the tour, cancelling plans to attend every event and meet the team.
- AC Milan's arrival was also met with enthusiasm, despite Luka Modric's absence, and fans are looking forward to the match.
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SINGAPORE – Waiting patiently for their heroes to arrive, a group of Arsenal fans braved the July 20 afternoon sun at Sentosa, with several umbrellas used as shields against the unrelenting heat.
But once they caught sight of two buses – one strikingly red with the words “Arsenal Tour 2025” – approaching the drop-off point at W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel, the umbrellas were promptly retracted.
Much jostling then took place among the group of about 50 supporters as children were mounted on their dads’ shoulders, while others armed themselves with markers and memorabilia in anticipation of autographs from their favourite players, who had just arrived in Singapore to kick-start their pre-season tour of Asia.
As part of the Singapore Festival of Football, Arsenal will play friendly matches against Italian side AC Milan (July 23) and fellow English Premier League outfit Newcastle United (July 27) at the National Stadium.
Manager Mikel Arteta was among the first to get off the bus, along with members of coaching staff, and headed straight for fans shouting his name. He took his time to work his way down the line, signing autographs and posing for wefies.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta signing autographs for fans at W Singapore hotel on July 20.
Most of the 30-man squad, including Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly – who still had his earphones in – did the same.
Declan Rice showed no signs of jet lag, and the midfielder was spry as he flashed his pearly whites for wefies and exchanged greetings while fans cheered: “Rice, Rice, baby!”
New signings Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga were also given a warm welcome. Notably missing from the squad was winger Noni Madueke, who just joined from Chelsea on July 18 after being part of the Blues’ Club World Cup winning campaign in the United States.
Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi signing autographs for fans at W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel on July 20.
English teacher Amanpreet Singh collected 10 autographs, including those of Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz, in a sketchbook, where he pasted photographs of 33 players and coaches.
His goal is to collect all their autographs. To commit to his cause, he has taken a week off work. The 29-year-old said: “I intend to be here every day, probably from 8am until past midnight.
“I cancelled all my plans. My mother’s birthday is this Tuesday, and I asked her if we could celebrate belatedly. She said, ‘Okay, since Arsenal doesn’t come here every year’.”
Vaishnavi, 28, and sisters Diyana Amir, 27, and Erina Amir, 21, had their arms perched atop the barricades in anticipation since 1.30pm.
While dabbing droplets of sweat from her brow, Erina said: “I’m looking forward to meeting David Raya the most. He’s one of the goalkeepers that have really come into the spotlight recently and he has been so promising.”
The sisters first met Vaishnavi, who goes by one name, while supporting Arsenal’s youth team at the Lion City Cup in Singapore in 2013, and watched matches together when the senior team visited in 2015 and 2018.
For most hardcore fans, the week’s activities are just starting. Banker Clarence Toh, 34, will be in the stands at the National Stadium for both friendlies. He will also be at the Gunners’ open training session at the same venue on July 25. Tickets for all three events are available on Ticketek.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka taking a wefie with fans at W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel on July 20.
Toh, who snagged wefies with Bukayo Saka and Arteta, said: “Us Arsenal fans have waited for a long time – seven years.
“This year we have a very good squad, with many new signings, who are capable of challenging for the Premier League title.”
Arsenal last visited Singapore in 2018 for the International Champions Cup, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, Milan arrived at the Conrad Singapore Marina Bay hotel later in the day, with a group of about 35 fans welcoming them just before midnight, most of them clamouring for Rafael Leao, Fikayo Tomori and Mike Maignan.
New signing Luka Modric is not here as he is currently on a break after playing his last match for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-finals on July 9.
But fans whom The Straits Times spoke to were not too disappointed that the 39-year-old Croatian midfielder is not in the travelling squad.
Singaporean Johnson Foo, who has been supporting the Rossoneri since 1990, was at the hotel with his wife and son, all wearing Milan’s new home jersey. “We are all geared up for the match on Wednesday,” said the 45-year-old.