The match flickered into life the moment the referee's hand dropped.
Yokohama came out with a burst of energy that caught Arsenal a little flat, snapping into quick combinations through midfield and pushing the tempo in a way that made the home supporters rise in anticipation.
One of their midfield anchors clipped a first-time pass between Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly, sending Asahi Uenaka darting into the right channel.
Saliba reacted quickly and forced him wide, and Uenaka tried to squeeze a low cross into the box.
Saliba still showed up, read it well and cleared into touch, but the early pressure stirred the crowd.
"Good start from Yokohama," one commentator said as the fans clapped the effort.
