Singapore sting as five-star Gunners are too hot for PSG
Arsenal signed off the Asian leg of their International Champions Cup campaign with a 5-1 rout of manager Unai Emery’s old club, Paris Saint-germain, in Singapore.
The Gunners, who lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid two days ago, prevailed this time with Mesut Ozil’s early goal and two secondhalf strikes from Alexandre Lacazette putting them in charge after Christopher Nkunku had levelled briefly from a penalty.
There was then a late fourth from defender Rob Holding and an even later fifth, courtesy of Eddie Nketiah.
Ozil was captain for this fixture and wasted little time in putting his stamp on proceedings at the Singapore Stadium.
PSG’S Azzedine Toufiqui twice went close, and Ozil’s cross set up Shkodran Mustafi for a header, which also flew wide.
Within a minute, an unattended Ozil tucked in from close range after Pierre-emerick Aubameyang had crossed from the right. Alex Iwobi’s right-foot shot was saved by Gianluigi Buffon and, although Toufiqui threatened again with a long-range shot on the halfhour, Arsenal were dominant.
Buffon saved twice more, from Aubameyang and then Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Mustafi went close from Ozil’s cross, but Arsenal could not extend their advantage before the break.
Emiliano Martinez, who replaced Bernd Leno at half-time, kept Arsenal ahead with a fine save from Nkunku’s shot early in the second half.
Timothy Weah missed from a tight angle, as did Adrien Rabiot with a header, as PSG pressed.
Then after Sead Kolasinac fouled Weah to concede a penalty, Nkunku made no mistake from 12 yards to level just before the hour mark.
Emery made a raft of four further substitutions – including Emile Smith-rowe for Ozil.
Then, less than three minutes later, the teenage midfielder helped the Gunners get back in front when he found the perfect cross for Lacazette to get in ahead of the PSG defence.
The France striker confirmed Arsenal’s superiority with 20 minutes to go when he doubled up with a close-range header.
Holding then emphasised the advantage with his header in the 87th minute and, four minutes into injury time, Nketiah completed the rout.
■ Chelsea opened their International Champions Cup campaign with a penalty shootout win over Inter Milan in Nice.
The sides were tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes and Willy Caballero proved the hero for Maurizio Sarri’s men in the shoot-out, saving Milan Skriniar’s fourth penalty for Inter.
That gave Cesar Azpilicueta the opportunity to win it for Chelsea, with the Blues boasting a perfect record from the spot.
Pedro gave Chelsea the lead on his 31st birthday in the eighth minute, following up after Alvaro Morata saw his shot saved, but a slow start to the second half from Chelsea allowed Inter to equalise in the 49th minute through Roberto Gagliardini.
The Blues twice went close to winning it in normal time through Jorginho and Tammy Abraham.