Alexandre Lacazette scored his first goal at his new home as Arsenal fell to a 2-1 defeat against Sevilla but won the Emirates Cup in their final friendly of pre-season.
Joaquin Correa had given the Spanish side the lead early in the second half but Arsenal’s marquee summer signing struck just after the hour to bring the Gunners level, though a gorgeous curling effort from Steven N’Zonzi secured a win for Sevilla.
For the last run out before the Premier League season curtain-raiser next weekend, Wenger continued with the back three which has served the Gunners well since the Spring switch from 4-2-3-1.
Despite 11 changes to the side that had crushed Benfica 5-2 this Arsenal line-up looked formidable, especially out wide where Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Hector Bellerin took the wing-back roles.
They look a dangerous pairing even if the Spaniard is some way short of match sharpness. The fact that he has had less than a week in training might explain why he spurned such a fine chance when he volleyed Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross over.
Bellerin wasn’t the only one who looked rusty, with Danny Welbeck poking a chance wide after a fine break on the counter.
The progenitor of that move, record signing Lacazette, was anything but out of practice and proved an intimidating presence for Sevilla’s defence. Only the Premier League will prove whether he was £52million well spent but he certainly seems to have the raw materials.
Just like fellow summer arrival Sead Kolasinac he seems to have the muscle to cope with the Premier League, holding off two defenders in midfield to release Bellerin for one of Arsenal’s several explosive counters in the first-half.
Sevilla were largely reduced to pot shots on the counter, though Nolito’s rasping volley off a Mohamed Elneny clearance came within inches of handing them the lead.
The interval brought renewed purpose from the Spaniards, who took the lead in impressive fashion when Correa dummied a cutback from Michael Kroh-Dehli. Continuing his run into the box he was perfectly placed for Wissam Ben Yedder’s through ball and needed only to roll the ball past Petr Cech.
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Lacazette had increasingly found himself on the margins of the game but it was from there he levelled the scoring. An explosive run from Oxlade-Chamberlain left Clement Lenglet on the floor and the wing-back’s low cross eluded attackers and defenders on its way to the French striker, who will score few easier goals at the Emirates than the tap-in that brought Arsenal level.
The game seemed to be meandering to its conclusion until the giant N’Zonzi provided the most delicate of deciding acts, wrapping his left foot around a pass and looping his shot over Cech.
With both teams level on points Arsenal would go on to win the competition by virtue of scoring more goals than Sevilla, who had won both their games.
