*Magic man Van seals win*
A goal of sublime execution from Robin van Persie was enough to
hand Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Internazionale that secured them
the inaugural Emirates Cup.
The doom merchants may be hovering over the red side of North
London, but Arsene Wenger's band of starlets will be confident the
glory years of Thierry Henry can be replicated in the Frenchman's
absence.
Arsenal may be unfancied ahead of the forthcoming campaign but on
Sunday, against the Serie A champions, they were dominant
throughout, in a typically polished display that was ever easy on
the eye.
It was Van Persie at the hub of much of the home side's best work,
as the Dutchman dropped deep to link-up with his midfield; a
creative epicentre that will be bettered by few this season.
Van Persie drew the first save of note from Julio Cesar with a low
drive, before going close again, with a snapshot and a free-kick
that dipped just over.
On the right flank in an advanced role, Emmanuel Eboue caused
mayhem with a succession of driving runs, while behind him, new boy
Bacary Sagna, looks every inch an Arsenal player.
Mathieu Flamini brought another save from Cesar, as did Sagna, but
the scores remained level at the interval despite Arsenal's
incessant inventiveness.
Arsenal will wonder how they failed to be granted a penalty when
Van Persie was pushed in the back and, their frustrations were
further compounded, when on a rare Inter foray, David Suazo planted
a fine header beyond a previously peripheral Jens Lehmann.
A familiar Achilles heel of missing chances and being punished
seemed to be flaring up, but Arsenal's players responded in the
best possible manner, as Alexander Hleb drew them level, with a
shot on the rebound, after Francesco Toldo had produced a fine stop
to deny the classy schemer.
The best, though, was still to come when with just five minutes
remaining, Van Persie received the ball on his favoured left foot
and with a gorgeous swivel, moved the ball on to his right, leaving
an Inter defender bamboozled, before hammering a shot beyond a
crestfallen Toldo.
