Milan lost their opening Dubai Super Cup friendly 2-1 to Arsenal, with Fikayo Tomori grabbing a consolation goal and Divock Origi thumping the woodwork.
The Rossoneri were still missing numerous key players, including Theo Hernandez and Olivier Giroud at the World Cup, plus injured Mike Maignan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, so Tommaso Pobega was turned into a makeshift left-back.
Alexis Saelemaekers made his comeback after several months out, while Origi hit the crossbar just 11 minutes in with a scorcher from the edge of the area.
However, it was Martin Odegaard who put Arsenal in front with a fantastic free kick that left Ciprian Tatarusanu rooted to the spot.
Origi threatened again with a header just wide from Yacine Adli’s cross, but Adli and Tatarusanu got into a muddle playing out from the back, allowing Fabio Vieira to set up Reiss Nelson for a deflected goal.
Nelson, Mohamed Elneny and Vieira skimmed the woodwork before Milan got back into the game with Tomori’s glancing header on a Sandro Tonali free kick.
This result allows Arsenal to win the Dubai Super Cup, having already beaten Lyon 3-0, while Milan will face Liverpool on Friday December 16.
As per the rules of the tournament, they had a penalty shoot-out at the end anyway, which Milan lost with a weak Brahim Diaz effort and Rade Krunic drilling wide.
The Gunners see their Premier League season resume from December 12 against West Ham, whereas Milan won’t have a competitive match until January 4 with Salernitana.
Arsenal 2-1 Milan
Odegaard 21 (A), Nelson 42 (A), Tomori 78 (M)
Penalty shoot-out: Cedric (A, goal), Bennacer (M, goal), Gabriel (A, goal), Brahim Diaz (M, saved), Marquinhos (A, goal), Tonali (M, goal), Elneny (A, goal), Lazetic (M, goal), Smith (A, saved), Krunic (M, wide)
Milan: Tatarusanu; Kalulu (Thiaw 46), Gabbia, Tomori, Pobega; Tonali, Vranckx (Bennacer 75); Saelemaekers (Brahim Diaz 46), Adli (Krunic 75), Rebic (Bozzolan 75); Origi (Lazetic 56)
Arsenal: Hein; White (Cedric 46), Gabriel, Holding, Tierney (Sousa 82); Lokonga, Thomas (Elneny 46); Vieira (Marquinhos 75), Odegaard, Nelson (Cozier-Duberry 83); Nketiah
Well they were better and it was expected as it was their second or third friendly while it was the first for Milan.
I continue to believe we need an alternative for Bennacer. His style of play is very important for this Milan who lacks a playmaking attacking midfielder. Fortunately he didn’t get hurt in the first half of the season but if he gets hurt in the second part of the season we’re gonna lose a lot of points playing without a creative regista.