LONDON — Arsenal stepped up its impressive preparations for the new season by winning the Emirates Cup for the first time since 2010 as Theo Walcott's strike clinched a 1-0 win over Wolfsburg Sunday. Walcott's second half goal ensured Arsene Wenger's side took the silverware as it finished above Villarreal, which also won both of its matches but had an inferior goal average, in the four-team pre-season tournament at their Emirates Stadium.
After a swaggering 6-0 rout of Lyon Saturday, this was a more prosaic performance from the host, but there was still plenty to encourage Gunners boss Wenger ahead of their Premier League opener against West Ham on August 9.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, the only major signing made by Wenger since the end of last season, marked his home debut with the kind of composed display that was so often missing during Arsenal's goalkeeping woes in recent years.
Earlier, Villarreal piled on the pain for Lyon with a 2-0 victory.
Goals from Bruno Soriano and Leo Baptistao gave Marcelino Garcia Toral's side their second win in the pre-season tournament at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium after Saturday's success against Wolfsburg.
United prevails over Barca
Wayne Rooney got on the scoresheet as Manchester United scored a morale-boosting 3-1 friendly victory over European champions Barcelona at Santa Clara Saturday.
Rooney, Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj got United's goals to settle an entertaining game in front of 68,416 fans at the Levi's Stadium, home of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.
Rafinha scored a late consolation for Barcelona in the 90th minute, lashing home a shot before Januzaj netted United's third just 30 seconds later.?Barcelona, missing superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar after their exertions in the Copa America, was left ruing a series of chances which hit the woodwork.
Barcelona could have been 2-0 up within the opening minutes, Luis Suarez crashing a free-kick off the post after only four minutes with United goalkeeper David De Gea beaten.
Moments later De Gea was pressed into action when Sergi Roberto burst through only to shoot directly at the United keeper with the goal at his mercy.??Chelsea tops PSG
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made the difference Saturday, making two shoot-out saves and firing home the winner as the Blues downed Paris Saint Germain on penalties in an International Champions Cup friendly.
Ninety minutes of action saw the teams level at 1-1 after a goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the first half and Victor Moses in the second.
Courtois saved the day for the Premier League champion, denying spot-kicks from Jean-Christophe Bahebeck and Thiago Silva before blasting the winner into the top corner for the 6-5 shoot-out triumph against the French champions.
It was a morale-boosting win for Chelsea, which fell 4-2 to Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls to open its pre-season North American tour.?The match between two clubs that clashed in the late stages of the Champions League the past two seasons got off to a tense start before a crowd of 61,224 at Bank of America Stadium.
Paris Saint Germain went ahead in the 25th minute. After Matuidi won possession near the edge of the penalty area and fed Jean-Kevin Augustin. The teen talent's shot hit the post and fell to Ibrahimovic, who slotted it into an unguarded net.
Courtois replaced Begovic at halftime as both sides made multiple substitutions.
After Cesc Fabregas and Lucas were off target, Moses combined with Fabregas for the equalizer in the 65th.
Radamel Falcao then came on for his first appearance for the Blues since signing a one-year loan deal in the wake of a disastrous one-year loan at Manchester United. — Agencies
