Nigeria prospects Ethan Nwaneri and Butler-Oyedeji star as Arsenal sink AC Milan

By Olu Dare

Nigeria prospects Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Ethan Nwaneri were on parade as Arsenal defeated AC Milan 4-3 on penalties to win the Dubai Super Cup.

This game marked the culmination of a week-long warm weather break in Dubai, and the Gunners came into it buoyed by an excellent performance in the 3-0 win over Lyon.

Both teams saw plenty of the ball in the opening 45 minutes before being replaced at the interval.

However, it was the Italian giants, who looked more dangerous in the early exchanges. The closest either side came in the opening 10 minutes was when former Liverpool striker Divock Origi turned Rob Holding on the edge of the box, before curling his shot against the top of the crossbar.

After soaking up the pressure, Arsenal opened the scoring in fine style. Eddie Nketiah was tripped just outside the box, and up stepped Odegaard who arced his left-footed strike over the wall and beyond the despairing keeper.

AC Milan pulled one back with a simple header as the game entered the last 15 minutes. They won a free-kick near the byline and England defender Fikayo Tomori was left unmarked in front of goal to head home.

Karl Hein made four saves out of five in the first shootout, and made another to deny Brahim Diaz as Arsenal triumphed.

Butler-Oyedeji, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Lino Sousa, Matt Smith and Nwaneri came on for the last few minutes.