Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey turned in a dazzling double act to hand Arsenal an impressive 3-1 victory over ManchesterCity in a friendly clash in Helsinki today.
Arsene Wenger’s men stunned big-spending City and new boss Manuel Pellegrini – and the Gunners had Walcott and Ramsey to thank for their triumph.
Now Arsenal go into the opening Premier League game next week against Aston Villa at the Emirates in good heart.
It was Walcott who netted a goal and set up two more, one of which was bagged by Ramsey – after the Wales midfielder provided the pass for the England star’s goal.
Walcott opened the scoring on nine minutes in the Olympic Stadium following a superb through ball from Ramsey. The former Cardiff midfielder’s excellent pass found the ex-Southampton attacker and he delivered an exquisite chip past despairing City keeper and Three Lions team-mate Joe Hart.
The goal against Pellegrini‘s side gave the Gunners confidence and they looked more assured going forward with Lukas Podolski going close before Bacary Sagna rattled Hart’s post with a thunderous left foot strike.
City enjoyed good possession but couldn’t get the breakthrough with some excellent rearguard play from Wenger’s side keeping them at bay.
The Arsenal manager made three changes at the break with Olivier Giroud coming on for Podolski, Santi Cazorla replacing Jack Wilshere and Lukasz Fabianski in for Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsenal made it 2-0 when Ramsey coolly slotted past Hart after a delightful ball from Walcott on 59 minutes.
And it was Walcott who found his man once again when Arsenal added a third without reply. Giroud collected Walcott’s long ball in the box and steered beyond Hart to leave City shocked.
Wenger gave trialist Sebastian Perez, 20, his chance on 66 minutes when the midfielder – trying to get a move to north London from Colombian side Atletico Nacional – replacing Mikel Arteta.
Teenager Gedion Zelalem came on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson replaced Sagna on 73 minutes, with the latter getting a big ovation from the big Arsenal contingent in the crowd.
Jenkinson’s mother hails from Finland and the eight-back even represented Finland at U19 and U21 level.
Giroud had a goal disallowed for offside before City pulled back a consolation effort with ten minutes remaining.
Alvaro Negredo was played through, held off Laurent Koscielny and slid the ball under Fabianski.
Youth player Isaac Hayden, 18, replaced the excellent Ramsey to make his Arsenal debut with a few minutes remaining
Arsenal starting line-up: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Podolski.
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