Arsenal 3 Manchester City 2: Theo Walcott scores and grabs an assist as Gunners come from behind to win in Sweden
Half-time substitute sends a statement to Arsene Wenger that he is still capable
THEO WALCOTT helped stage a second half comeback as Arsenal ended their pre-season preparations with a 3-2 victory over Manchester City.
The forward, who recently asked to be placed back on the wing, assisted Alex Iwobi for Arsenal's equaliser before linking perfectly with Alexis Sanchez to score past Joe Hart.
Chuba Akpom handed Arsenal a two-goal advantage before Kelechi Iheanacho pulled one back as both defences looked shaky at the back.
Striker Sergio Aguero gave Pep Guardiola's side the lead on the half hour mark when he got on the end of a Raheem Sterling cross but City were pegged back in the second half.
Arsene Wenger made three half time changes and it didn't take long before Alex Iwobi confidently pulled the Gunners level thanks to a Walcott assist.
And Walcott turned the game around with 20 minutes to play with a delicate chip over the keeper before Akpom capitalised on a defensive howler to give Arsenal a 3-1 lead.
A late Iheanacho header wasn't enough to stage a late fight back but the game was overshadowed by a potentially serious injury to Gabriel in the dying embers of the game.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- ARSENE WENGER has finally got one over Pep Guardiola. During the Spaniards time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, his team's often battered his Gunners.
- YAYA TOURE fired way over and then tried to blame the ground. Not a great way to impress his new boss.
- THEO WALCOTT came on at half-time and got a goal and an assist which will please Arsene Wenger as he still has not bought any additional strikers.
- ARSENAL'S young Guns are showing a lot of promise. Alex Iwobi netted the equaliser and Chuba Akpom grabbed the winner showing they could be pushing for first team starts this season.
- THE crowd in Gothenberg didn't look the most enthusiastic to begin with but as the game warmed up it started to look more up for it.
- A young fan ran onto the pitch to get a selfie with Theo Walcott and the City players did not look impressed as they had possession.
- GABRIEL'S injury looked brutal. The defender clashed heads with a City player but came off worse and had to be stretchered off.
- AND that could be worrying times for Wenger who could now be forced to step up his interest in buying another defender.
- PEP GUARDIOLA will be happy to see Sergio Aguero on the score-sheet. He will be vital to City if they are going to win the league.
- GUARDIOLA'S stone island jacket shows he is morphing into a true Manc