Western Sydney Wanderers vs. Arsenal: Score, Reaction from 2017 Friendly Match

Arsenal ended their pre-season tour of Australia with a 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday.

Goals from Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny put the Gunners three up at the break before Steven Lustica got one back for Wanderers in the second half.

By contrast, the Gunners couldn't add to their tally after the break, despite record-signing Alexandre Lacazette making his first start for the club.

Lacazette's first start came in a strong Arsenal starting XI, also featuring Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Granit Xhaka, per the club's official Twitter account:

Significantly, Arsenal's adherence to the 3-4-2-1 formation they switched to late last season was obvious, with midfielder Elneny drafted in to play as a centre-back alongside Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal.

It didn't take long for Lacazette to catch the eye, as the club's record signing turned and accelerated superbly in the box, before firing in a low shot that was well saved.

Lacazette's chance was part of a bright start from the Gunners. Oxlade-Chamberlain's pace and direct running were stretching Wanderers out wide, while Alex Iwobi showed off some neat touches and guile in central areas.

Matt King/Getty Images

As Arsenal gained in confidence, the influence of Ramsey and Xhaka grew. They began to exploit defensive gaps with some quality passes between the lines.

Had it not been for some heavy touches in the box, the Gunners would have been comfortably in front early on. First, Lacazette couldn't control a deep Oxlade-Chamberlain cross in time to prevent a defender blocking his shot, then strike partner Giroud reacted sluggishly to a poor clearance in front of goal.

The latter soon spurned another chance when his header went straight at the Western Sydney goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic after rising to meet Xhaka's precise free-kick.

Giroud made amends on 32 minutes when Lacazette and Monreal combined on the left, with the latter teeing up Giroud to prod in the opener from close range.

WILLIAM WEST/Getty Images

Monreal was the provider again when his long ball over the top picked out a typically well-timed run from Ramsey, who deftly lobbed over Janjetovic.

It was three just before the break when Elneny's low drive deflected in after the Egyptian was teed up by Iwobi.

Elneny was denied minutes after the restart when only the underside of the bar kept his sweeping long shot out before Giroud headed the rebound over.

There was some rare drama at the other end when Jack Clisby cracked a shot off the bar. Western Sydney didn't have to wait long for their breakthrough, though.

It came seconds later when Ramsey was adjudged to have passed back to substitute goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Lustica slotted in a rebound amid a melee following the resulting indirect free-kick.

WILLIAM WEST/Getty Images

A raft of changes saw Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott and new signing Sead Kolasinac, among others, enter the game. Giroud and Lacazette were included in the group that made way.

Walcott stung Janjetovic's palms with a late stinging drive, while Ozil clipped the post from a serenely lifted free-kick.

These friendlies have been as much about team building as building fitness. The Gunners have managed both, with new faces Lacazette and Kolasinac earning precious minutes getting up to speed with their new team-mates.