Lacazette scores on debut in Arsenal win

Alexandre Lacazette scored on his Arsenal debut as they opened their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win against Sydney FC in Australia.

Another new signing, Sead Kolašinac, started the game – on the left of a back three – and there were senior debuts for youngsters Cohen Bramall, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock.

An early goal by Per Mertersacker put the Gunners ahead at the ANZ Stadium, where Lacazette came on as a substitute midway through the second half, soon after Danny Welbeck had a penalty saved.

Mertersacker was able to bundle the ball in from close range after the hosts failed to clear Mesut Ozil’s eighth-minute corner.

But Welbeck was later unable to beat keeper Andrew Redmayne with his spot-kick following a handball in the penalty area.

Redmayne produced a number of other saves and Eddie Nketiah hit the post as Arsenal dominated before eventually scoring a second goal.

It arrived seven minutes from time, with French striker Lacazette timing his run to perfection and side-footing home after being set up by Alex Iwobi.

Another definite positive for Arsenal was the performance of Nelson, who showed plenty of skill and promise during his 68 minutes on the pitch.

Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Cech (Martinez 45); Bielik (Maitland-Niles 68), Mertesacker (Elneny 68), Kolašinac (Monreal 68); Nelson (Oxlade-Chamberlain 68), Coquelin (Iwobi 68), Willock (Xhaka 68), Bramall (Malen 68); Ozil (Nketiah 68), Walcott (Lacazette 68); Welbeck (Giroud 68).