Yaya Sanogo scored four times as Arsenal crushed Portuguese champions Benfica 5-1 at the Emirates Cup friendly tournament in London yesterday.
The French striker, 21, who has never scored a competitive goal for the club, claimed a first-half hat-trick and added another goal in the second half to upstage star signing Alexis Sanchez, who made his first appearance as a late substitute.
Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell, back at Arsenal after three seasons out on loan, scored the host’s other goal, with Nicolas Gaitan replying for Europa League runners-up Benfica.
The game at the Emirates Stadium followed the 2-2 draw between Valencia and Monaco in the first game of the four-team friendly competition.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger used the occasion to cast his eye over some fringe players, with new signing Calum Chambers – formerly of Southampton – starting in an unfamiliar position at centre-back alongside fellow full-back Nacho Monreal.
After a few failed attempts, the hosts clicked into gear in devastating fashion. Sanogo broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a clever back-heeled finish from Ramsey’s right-wing cross.
The adventurous Bellerin then teed up Campbell to bludgeon home a left-foot volley in the 40th minute. Improbably, there was time for Sanogo to complete his hat-trick before the interval.
He tucked away a volleyed cross from Campbell in the 44th minute and then flicked in a centre from Kieran Gibbs at the second attempt in stoppage time.
Sanogo claimed his fourth four minutes into the second period, rolling the ball into an empty net after Benfica goalkeeper Moraes Artur had parried poorly from Aaron Ramsey.
Gaitan headed in from a long throw-in with just under half an hour remaining, but Arsenal’s fans were given further reason to cheer when Chile forward Sanchez replaced Campbell to make his debut following his switch from Barcelona.
He almost created a goal for fellow substitute Francis Coquelin in injury time, but the midfielder’s shot came back off the post.
CELTIC ROUT GIVES SPURS A LIFT WHILE MALAGA BEAT NEWCASTLE
Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Scottish champions Celtic 6-1 in yesterday’s friendly in Helsinki.
Spurs raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to efforts from frontmen Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado in the fourth and 11th minutes.
Jamie Lindsay pulled a goal back for Celtic in the 43rd, but a minute later Lewis Holtby restored the two-goal lead and Spurs kept the momentum going after the break.
Midfielder Erik Lamela – who, like Soldado, is looking to bounce back after a disappointing first season in London – made it 4-1 just before the hour mark.
A Christian Eriksen free-kick and Emmanuel Adebayor penalty wrapped up the rout in the last 10 minutes. Celtic’s misery was compounded by a red card for Efe Ambrose – his second this week, having been dismissed in Wednesday’s 4-1 Uefa Champions League qualifier defeat to Legia Warsaw.
Newcastle United conceded three goals in 18 first-half minutes in a 3-1 loss to Spanish side Malaga.
Sergi Darder opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a long-range strike, Samu Castillejo volleyed in at the far post in the 32nd minute and he then netted a deflected effort towards the end of the half, before Gabriel Obertan fired in a consolation on the hour.
Summer signing Bafetimbi Gomis was on the scoresheet for Swansea City as they beat Reading 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium.
The France striker provided a cool finish to seal the victory in the second half. Wayne Routledge had earlier scored twice in three minutes to put the Swans in charge, with the hosts replying through a Nick Blackman strike.
Crystal Palace had a 3-2 defeat at Championship newcomers Brentford. A flurry of goals early in the second half saw Jonathan Douglas and Andre Gray put the home team 2-0 up, and Palace then draw level through Glenn Murray and Marouane Chamakh. Moses Odubajo subsequently notched the winner.
Aston Villa slumped to a 4-1 defeat away against Dutch side Groningen after conceding two goals in the opening eight minutes. Both were scored by Tjaronn Chery, and Jarchinio Antonia then made it 3-0 on the half-hour.
Charles N’Zogbia responded with a free kick with 15 minutes to go, but Groningen’s Dino Islamovic added a fourth in the final seconds.
Competing in the same Schalke Cup tournament as Newcastle, West Ham United beat the hosts 7-6 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
* Press Association