YOUNG GUNS EXCITE RICE

With 'special' teens and new additions, he sees rosy times ahead for Arsenal

- Kolette Lim

Arsenal's new signings and a crop of up-and-coming young players are setting the team up for a promising future, said English midfielder Declan Rice.

The team's new additions — midfielders Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and winger Noni Madueke — will give the Gunners the depth they lacked last season, he said.

"We played pretty much half of (last) season with so many injuries. So to now be able to rotate and push in different competitions with different players, it's going to be really good.

"Tonight was a really good outing. We looked really good, fit and strong," said Rice during an interview after Arsenal's 1-0 friendly win over Italian side AC Milan at the National Stadium on July 23.

England star Bukayo Saka scored the match's only goal to mark a successful start to Arsenal's pre-season campaign.

Academy graduates Max Dowman and Marli Salmon — both just 15 years old — made their debuts for the club, while Josh Nichols, 18, was also given a run-out.

Dowman, who replaced Man of the Match Saka on the right wing, showed glimpses of his much-touted talent and fearlessness, running at the AC Milan defence and not shirking challenges against imposing opponents, including 1.94m Serbian defender Strahinja Pavlovic.

Post-game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta noted it was "incredible" how the teens acquitted themselves and Rice, too, said he was hugely impressed.