Arsenal Wins 2017 Emirates Cup Despite Loss to Sevilla

Arsenal won the 2017 Emirates Cup despite losing 2-1 to La Liga side Sevilla at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Summer signing Alexandre Lacazette scored his first home goal for the Gunners, but Joaquin Correa and Steven N'Zonzi found the net for Sevilla.

Even so, Arsenal still claimed the pre-season trophy by virtue of goals scored thanks largely to their 5-2 win over Benfica on Saturday.

Both managers started their main summer signings up front, with Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger including Lacazette while new Sevilla boss Eduardo Berizzo deployed former Celta Vigo and Manchester City forward Nolito.

Arsenal's official Twitter account relayed both teams:

The Gunners were saved by the post on 14 minutes when Ever Banega slid a terrific pass through to Wissam Ben Yedder. However, the former Toulouse striker smacked his shot off the post with Petr Cech beaten at full stretch.

Despite the scare, Arsenal should have been in front seven minutes later. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed excellent acceleration on the left flank before hanging up a deep cross fellow wing-back Hector Bellerin blazed over.

The hosts had been slow to fashion a clear-cut chance, and ESPN's Mattias Karen felt there was a lack of impetus from some of the more established players:

It was a reasonable critique since playmakers Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey were struggling to influence proceedings against Banega and N'Zonzi. As a result, Lacazette was starved of service up front.

Arsenal weren't particularly fluid in possession but did pose a threat on the break, with Danny Welbeck and Ramsey both flashing shots wide after impressive runs. At the other end, Nolito went close with a terrifically stuck midair volley that had Cech worried.

The first half ended without a goal but only after Nolito's pull back for Ben Yedder was cut out by Koscielny after the City man had smartly sprung the offside trap. A quicker, better ball would have given Ben Yedder a tap-in.

Sevilla need barely more than three minutes to take the lead after the restart. A smart combination between Michael Krohn-Dehli and Ben Yedder saw the latter play Correa through, a chance the Argentinian took with a cute finish.

Arsenal might have equalised in less than 10 minutes had Lacazette made more of his shot following some nice one-touch football between Ozil and Ramsey. Lacazette would soon make amends, though.

The former Lyon striker had the Gunners level when he finished instinctively after Welbeck had shot at air trying to connect with Oxlade-Chamberlain's low cross. It was a goal that owed everything to the latter's determined and powerful running on the right.

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Lacazette's celebrations were short-lived as Sevilla were back in front seven minutes later. The goal came from the right boot of N'Zonzi, who curled a stunning long-range effort over Cech and into the top corner.

Wenger responded by introducing attacking reinforcements in the shape of Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott, prompting another switch of positions for the tireless Oxlade-Chamberlain, per Mark Mann-Bryans of Press Association Sport:

Ramsey curled just wide late on, but Arsenal ultimately paid the price for wasting too many final balls in attacking areas.

Still, Wenger will likely be pleased by what he's seen over the two days of the tournament. New faces and exciting youngsters have shown their potential, even if defensive jitters should concern the Gunners boss as the start of the real action gets closer.