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Arsenal comeback

Eurosport
ByEurosport

Published 29/07/2007 at 20:38 GMT

Arsenal staged an impressive second-half comeback to defeat Internazionale 2-1 and win the Emirates Cup on their home ground.

FOOTBALL 2007 Emirates Cup Arsenal-Inter Fabregas Dacourt

Image credit: Reuters

The Gunners fell behind to a David Suazo header before efforts from Alexander Hleb and Robin van Persie turned the match around.
The won the four-team tournament with a tally of 10 points from their two games, with the format awarding a point per goal plus the usual three for a win and one for a draw. Arsene Wenger's side beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 on Saturday.
William Gallas lifted the trophy after somewhat surprisingly being given the captain's armband ahead of central defensive partner Kolo Toure.
Wenger fielded a strong side with Cesc Fabregas marshalling the midfield, and Kieran Gibbs the only unfamiliar face in the starting 11.
However, there was no Eduardo Da Silva with the Coatian still awaiting a work permit.
The match started slowly, but the home side has the better of what chances there were, spurred on by a near-capacity crowd.
Emmanuel Eboue played on the right side of midfield, with new signing Bacary Sagna at right-back, and filled the role with attacking verve.
The Cameroonian's probing runs proved a constant thorn in the side of an inexperienced Inter side, and Sagna got in on the act when he forced a save from Julio Cesar on 36 minutes.
Dutch striker Van Persie went close with two free-kicks and might have had a penalty shout, before Inter went in front against the run of play.
Suazo, a summer signing from Cagliari, showed his impressive eye for goal by powering his header past Jens Lehmann from a standing jump on 62 minutes.
Five minutes later it was one apiece when Sagna pulled back from the right by-line and Hleb brought a brilliant save from substitute keeper Francesco Toldo, before firing the rebound in left-footed.
The home side continued to press on as Inter's lack of fitness told, and Van Persie ensured victory five minutes from time with a neat bit of trickery.
The forward looked sure to shoot on his favoured right foot, but instead twisted away from his man and powered a right-footed shot into the net from the angle.
Earlier, Paris Saint-Germain produced a superb display, putting Valencia to the sword with a 3-0 victory.
The French side, typically a crisis club but showing signs of improvement under Paul Le Guen, played the Liga contenders off the pitch at times with a performance of pace, skill and class.
PSG were further helped by their superior fitness levels - with the French season kicking off nearly a month before its Spanish equivalent.
Amara Diane, David N'Gog and Peguy Luyindula were all on target and the margin of victory could have been greater still but for some fine saves from Valencia keeper Timo Hildebrand.
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