Arsenal and Liverpool enjoy pre-season victories

Arsenal enjoyed their return home yesterday as Theo Walcott scored twice in a 5-2 thrashing of Portugese champions Benfica in the Emirates Cup.

After a pre-season tour of China that produced a draw against Bayern Munich and defeat to Chelsea, the FA Cup holders fared far better on home turf.

Benfica took the lead with Franco Cervi opening the scoring after 12 minutes, but Walcott levelled proceedings 13 minutes later. The England forward later scored Arsenal’s second just after the half hour mark. Benfica pulled level five minutes before half time through an equaliser from Eduardo Salvio.

Three unanswered second half goals saw Arsenal run out comfortable winners.

An own goal by Argentine defender Lisandro Lopez restored Arsenal’s lead before French striker Olivier Giroud earned the hosts some breathing space midway trough the second half.

Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi rounded off the scoring with 19 minutes remaining to ensure Arsenal began their Emirates Cup campaign in perfect style.

Arsenal next face Spanish side Sevilla today after Benfica take on Bundesliga runners-up RB Leipzig.

Elsewhere, there was also a comfortable win for Liverpool in their pre-season contest against Hertha Berlin, with Jurgen Klopp’s side claiming a 3-0 victory in Germany.

England Under-20 forward Dominic Solanke, signed this summer from Premier League rivals Chelsea, broke the deadlock after 16 minutes.

Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum doubled Liverpool’s lead with a smart finish from the edge of the area seven minutes before the interval.

But the goal of the game belonged to Liverpool’s newest big-money signing Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian forward latched on to a through-ball from Philippe Coutinho before lobbing the Hertha goalkeeper from distance.