WHAT HAPPENED
Back on home soil and back among the goals, we made a fine start to the 2017 edition of the Emirates Cup by beating Benfica 5-2 on Saturday.
After our two-week sojourn to Sydney, Shanghai and Beijing, this was a chance to put on a show ahead of the new season in front of a packed house – and we made the most of it.
The last time Benfica visited the Emirates in this competition, Yaya Sanogo scored four times as we ran out 5-1 winners – and the Portuguese giants were keen to avoid any repeat this time around.
Rui Vitoria’s side were slick passers and confident in possession, and they grabbed an early lead when Jonas found Franco Cervi in the box and he slotted past David Ospina.
But with the exciting Reiss Nelson picking from where he left off on tour, we mounted a strong response – and equalised midway through the first half.
Walcott was the scorer, but in truth he owed much to the excellent Sead Kolasinac, who muscled his way into the area and chipped the ball to the forward to volley home from close range.
Just after the half-hour mark we stepped through the gears again to take the lead – with Kolasinac once again at the heart of it.
The Bosnia international had enjoyed a fine first showing at his new home, and played a slick one-two with Francis Coquelin, who rolled the ball across the box for Walcott to convert.
But Benfica were lively opponents, and back they came – with Ospina making a smart save to deny Pizzi before the Portuguese side equalised moments later through Salvio.
The second half was an equally-enjoyable affair, as we continued to press forward in search of more goals – and we were rewarded almost straight away when Lopez poked the ball into his own goal.
With Alex Iwobi continuing his impressive pre-season form, a further goal looked on the cards and it duly arrived when Nelson escaped his marker with a deft flick of the leg before crossing to the waiting Giroud to convert.
The France international went close again with a first-time volley that was palmed away by Cesar, before turning provider as Iwobi found the roof of the net with a fabulous finish.
It was a fine way to round off an excellent performance – Sevilla are up next, but in this sort of form we can look forward to that game with a real confidence.
AS IT HAPPENED
Find out exactly how the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute coverage.
KOLASINAC IMPRESSES
It may have been his first appearance at Emirates Stadium, but Sead Kolasinac looked right at home in his new surroundings.
The Bosnia international started as the left-sided member of the back three, and shone with a muscular, energetic display – often bursting forward from the back.
Kolasinac did superbly for our first goal, using his natural power to nick the ball in the area off Pizzi, who had been trying to shepherd it out for a goal kick, and then picking out Walcott for a simple finish.
The 24-year-old then burst forward again in the 33rd minute, taking a pass from Coquelin just outside the area and then slipping it back to the midfielder first time as he crossed for Walcott to claim his second.
Kolasinac was involved in our fifth too, once again charging forward into the area, before finding Giroud who laid it off for Iwobi to score.
But it was not only going forward that Kolasinac impressed. It was his desire and hunger to bite into tackles that really caught the eye.
It may be early days, but there was much to admire about a performance that will have left a more than positive first impression on his new fans.
WHAT’S NEXT
Having beaten Benfica, we can lift the trophy again when we face Sevilla on Sunday – but the Spanish side will provide a big test.
Eduardo Berizzo’s side are a technically-accomplished team and, having won the Europa League three years in a row between 2014 and 2016, they will fancy their chances of causing an upset.
They beat RB Leipzig in the early kick off here through Wissam Ben Yedder’s goal, a result that leaves them second in the group.
Click here to buy your tickets to day two of the Emirates Cup.
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 54538
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