Arsenal stepped up their impressive preparations for the new season by winning the Emirates Cup for the first time since 2010 as Theo Walcott’s strike clinched a 1-0 win over Wolfsburg.
Walcott’s second half goal ensured Arsene Wenger’s side took the silverware as they finished above Villarreal, who also won both their matches but had an inferior goals scored record, in the four-team pre-season tournament at their Emirates Stadium.
After a swaggering 6-0 rout of Lyon, this was a more prosaic performance from the hosts, but there was still plenty to encourage Gunners boss Wenger ahead of their Premier League opener against West Ham United early next month.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, the only major signing made by Wenger since the end of last season, marked his home debut with the kind of composed display that was so often missing during Arsenal’s goalkeeping woes in recent years.
After starting last season’s FA Cup final win against Aston Villa in the central striker’s role he has coveted for much of his career, Walcott’s cool finish provided further evidence the winger might be ready to make a permanent transition this season.
There was also a tantalising glimpse into Arsenal’s future as 17-year-old French midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide made an eye-catching start 24 hours after an equally effervescent performance from fellow teenager Alex Iwobi.
And, having already secured the Asia Trophy earlier this month, the Gunners can now clinch a hat-trick of pre-season trophies if they defeat Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley next weekend.
“Our technical level was good, but it was maybe less spectacular than yesterday because our final ball wasn’t at the top level,” Wenger said.
“We gave them many more problems in the second half because we pushed up more and overall it was two good days.”
The goal came from a moment of inspiration from Reine-Adelaide.
Signed from the Lens academy last month after helping France win the European Under-17 Championships, Reine-Adelaide has been hailed by Wenger as “something special” and he showed why with a quality contribution to Walcott’s 50th minute goal.
A deft first touch and nimble turn took the youngster away from his marker and he advanced quickly towards the penalty area before slipping a clever pass through to Walcott, who calmly slotted home.
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