MLS All Stars 1 Arsenal 2: Chuba Akpom strikes late to secure victory for Gunners after Didier Drogba strike

Opener: Joel Campbell hammers home a penalty
Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Benge29 July 2016

Chuba Akpom struck in the last five minutes as Arsenal secured a pleasing 2-1 victory over the MLS All Stars in a closely-fought friendly.

Joel Campbell’s early penalty gave Arene Wenger’s side the lead before former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba once more found the net against Arsenal on the stroke of half time. However Akpom’s late strike secured a first win of their pre-season for the Gunners, who were solid throughout.

The best and brightest of the MLS had proven themselves to be worthy opponents for European sides over recent years, Arsenal’s London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as Bayern Munich, had all found the All Stars too much for them in their pre-season fixtures. But the Gunners start suggested they were determined to assert their superiority.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Campbell had gone close before the 10th minute, when a long ball over the top released the Costa Rican before he went down under the challenge of Laurent Ciman.

Campbell dusted himself off to hammer a perfectly-placed penalty past Andre Blake and it seemed Arsenal were on course for a comfortable win.

Indeed had Theo Walcott been able to do more than roll a tame shot at Blake when through on goal after 18 minutes. Though Arsenal remained in the ascendancy they would not have a better chance in the first half.

With time running out their old foe returned to haunt them once more. Drogba had scored 15 in 16 games against Arsenal for Chelsea but he only added to his tally with some difficulty, needing three attempts to score from close range after first Petr Cech and then Mathieu Debuchy blocked his effort. The Ivorian departed at the break, having proven he could still give Wenger cause for frustration.

Granit Xhaka led five changes from Arsenal at the start of the second half but it was to be another second half substitute, MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco, who made the biggest impact after the break.

Cech was forced into a fine save from a curling left-footed strike by the Italian international, who was a constant thorn in the Gunners side.

However the intensity of the contest dropped notably as changes continued at a pace. Xhaka attempted to add some drive to the game and came close with a powerful ranged effort, moments later the Swiss midfielder tested the goalkeeper with a low free-kick hit with similar venom.

With the game drifting towards penalties Akpom, on for the indifferent Walcott, found space in the box to turn home a low cross from Nacho Monreal, securing Arsenal the victory.

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