Alexandre Lacazette scores on debut in comfortable Arsenal win

Arsenal took the lead early in the match when captain Per Mertesacker hooked the ball over his head into the net from a corner.

The Premier League side continued to dominated their opponents, bar one Petr Cech save, but they failed to break them down in the first half.

Danny Welbeck saw a penalty saved by the impressive Andrew Redmayne between the Sydney posts but they did not get the second goal until Wenger made 10 second-half changes, one of which was Lacazette.

Alex Iwobi burst down the right and squared the ball to Lacazette and with the space granted to him by his movement he calmly slotted home.

Of course the main reason any of us were watching this game was to see Lacazette in action. Arsenal paid a lot of money (£52.7 million to be precise) for the striker and whilst it is just a pre-season friendly it will be nice for fans to see him getting off the mark early.

His movement for the goal was the real highlight, staying constantly on the move giving the defenders no chance in terms of marking.

The interesting thing was that he actually dropped off a bit and moved a bit left. Compatriot Giroud led the line and Lacazette was given much more freedom, a sign of things to come?

Overall a good start, but it is just a start.

The real star of the match as far as Arsenal are concerned has to be young Reiss Nelson.

Lining up on the right as a wing-back Nelson looked full of confidence and had no fear in taking on the Sydney defenders.

With quick feet and pace to burn he was very bright.

As with Lacazette it's just a start but Nelson deserves more chances as pre-season goes on.

And that's full-time! A very comfortable win for Arsenal and crucially Lacazette's first goal!

Just a few minutes left here and to be honest Arsenal, their fans and Arsene Wenger have got exactly what they wanted, a goal for Lacazette. Sydney have done okay but really they're lucky for it just to be two.

That's what they wanted! That's what everyone came for! Iwobi does really well done the right-hand side and he squares the ball into the penalty area. Lacazette is in the right place at the right time and he calmly slots home. Brilliant movement from the forward. The first of many for Arsenal?

Nketiah has done well since coming on and he's hit the post with a decent effort. Some nice foot work from Lacazette wins Arsenal a free-kick. Oxlade-Chamberlain stands over it again but it's comfortably cleared.

Oxlade-Chamberlain tests Redmayne from a free-kick but once against the Sydney keeper is more than equal to it. As expected Arsenal are struggling a little for fluency now following so many changes. Just over ten mintes for a Lacazette goal.

Right so it's Giroud elading the line and Lacazette sitting just off him, looking to drop a little deep when he can. This is a hilariously attacking line-up from Wenger as he clearly tries to get Lacazette a debut goal.

Right I'm just trying to work out if it was all ten and who has come on.

Lacazette, Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Elneny, Malen, Xhaka, Maintland-Niles, Iwobi Monreal and Nketiah are all definitely on. That's ten.

CHANGES! Oh god was that every single player? Well the important thing is that Lacazette is on. Huge cheers as he plays his first pass.

Brace yourselves. Arsenal are about to make A LOT of substitutions and I think Lacazette will be one of them.

Much better from Sydney as they get a bit more possession in and around the Arsenal penalty area. However the final ball is always just lacking, they're always a little bit off making a killer pass and really troubling Arsenal.

I tell you what Andrew Redmayne is going to tell his children about this match. He's alert to make another save as Ozil cuts the ball back to Walcott. It's straight at him but he across his goal really well.

What a terrific stop that is for Redmayne and justice hsa been done for Sydney. Welbeck hits his penalty firmly but it isn't as far into the corner as he would have liked. It's a great save and he exchanges high fives with his team-mates.

Disaster for Sydney as poor pass back allows Welbeck to steal in. He squares it to Walcott but his shot is blocked. However the referee decides to call for a penalty arguing that Ryall handled the ball. However replays show that actually it him on the back, a terrible decision. The crowd are not amused.

The two young wing-backs combine as Nelson gets down the right and floats a ball over to the back post. It finds Bramall and he stays calm and takes a touch before trying to guide a volley into the top corner with the outside of his left boot but it's palmed away by Redmayne.

Early chance for Arsenal as Ozil gets down the left well and sends in a cross but it is volleyed wide. There's a corner as a result but Arsenal can't really create much from it. Meanwhile Martinez is called into action early as he has to make a good save down low in order to keep out a shot from substitute Zuvela who has admitted he's a huge Arsenal fan. .

And we're back underway, just the one change for Arsenal as Martinez replaces Cech which means no Lacazette just yet.

And that's half-time! A very decent opening 45 minutes to Arsenal's pre-season. Captain Mertesacker has given them the lead but they could, and should have scored more. Nelson has been the pick of the bunch with Bramall and Willock also doing well. For Arsenal fans the dream here would be a few more goals, including from Lacazette if/when he comes on.

Joe Willock's older brother Chris has left to join Benfica but Arsenal may have a gem in the younger brother. He looks very assured at the base of midfield and gets forward well to force another fine stop from Redmayne. Arsenal starting to raise the intensity again after a quieter period as a number of players start to queue up to have pot-shots as Sydney fail to clear a corner.

The crowd enjoy some showboating from Bramall but Sydney are starting to get a bit more space as the game goes on. There's a bit of a laugh as an Arsenal player slips outside the penalty area whilst trying to pay a pass.

First real chance for Sydney! they burst forward from the back. Brillante breaks forward and skips past Mertesacker with ease, forcing a decent low save from Cech. Simon is on the follow-up but he hits the side netting. Arsenal get forward themselves and Walcott and Coquelin force a couple of decent saves out of Redmayne.

Another good chance for Bielik from a corner after Welbeck had a shot blocked. There is a huge roar as Lacazette goes tog et warmed up, you know who everything hsa come to see. I must say Nelson, who is just 17, has been hugely impressive. He has extremely quick feet and looks like a real prospect.

For those who aren't aware Sydney are the reigning Australian champions but this is tough viewing for their fans at the moment. Their forward players are isolated and they simply can't get any sort of meaningful possession. The wide men for Arsenala re really impressing so far. Arsenal sense blood here. The crowd enjoy themselves as Bielik brings the ball out from the back and sends a Sydney player onto his backside.

Some nice work for Coquelin gets Nelson into space but goes for the pass rather than shot. Brammall then wins a free-kick which Welbeck takes but it's deflected over. Another good corner from ozil and this time it is Bielik who can't quite get his header on target.

Oooo great chance for Welbeck to make it two! Nelson does really well as he squeezes through a couple of challenges before Welbeck picks up the loose ball. He fires away a shot but the keeper does well to tip the ball over the bar. From the corner Ozil swings in a dangerous ball but Walcott makes a mess of the header. It seems a question of when not if with regards to Arsenal's second.

Danny Welbeck is looking good here, it's almost as if he realises his position is under threat by someone... In his defence Theo Walcott hsa been good as well so far, despite a lot of fans wanting him to leave the club. Arsenal are pushing really high up despite having Mertesacker in the team, I guess it helps when you have two far younger defenders either side of him. Nelson has done really well on a couple of occasions out wide with the forwards agonisingly close from connecting with his crosses.

Sydney are really struggling here, I mean that's not too surprising given the gulf in class but it's a bit of a training ground exercise at the moment for the Premier League side. They're just knocking around passes as if it's nobody's business. Slight moment of panic for Arsenal when one high ball isn't dealt with particularly well but they eventually clear. Interesting to note early on that Kolasinac seems to be taking on the role of ball-player in the defence.

Crikey what a start that was from Arsenal. It takes them less than sixty seconds to open up their opponents as that man Kolasinac does really down the left and sets up Theo Walcott but he can't get a shot away. Then Willock does well to help win a corner and from the corner we have a GOAL! The ball is loose and Per Mertesacker swivels really well and hooks the ball into the net. Some are calling an overhead kick and I'm not quite sure it's that but it's a lovely finish from the big man.

Of course fans will be disappointed that Alexandre Lacazette isn't starting but there is a chance to see fellow new signing Sead Kolasinac in action for the first time.

There are also appearances for youngsters Cohen Bramall, Krystian Bielik, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock.

Starting XI: Cech, Bielik, Mertesacker, Kolasinac, Coquelin, Willock, Nelson, Bramall, Ozil, Walcott, Welbeck.

Subs: Martinez, Ospina, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Lacazette, Giroud, Malen, Nketiah.