Arsenal midfielder Theo Walcott celebrates after scoring a goal during the pre-season friendly match against Wolfsburg.

AFP/London

Arsenal stepped up their impressive preparations for the new season by winning the Emirates Cup for the first time since 2010 as Theo Walcott’s strike clinched a 1-0 win over Wolfsburg yesterday.
Walcott’s second half goal ensured Arsene Wenger’s side took the silverware as they finished above Villarreal, who also won both their matches but had an inferior goals scored record, in the four-team pre-season tournament at their Emirates Stadium.
After a swaggering 6-0 rout of Lyon on Saturday, this was a more prosaic performance from the hosts, but there was still plenty to encourage Gunners boss Wenger ahead of their Premier League opener against West Ham on August 9.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, the only major signing made by Wenger since the end of last season, marked his home debut with the kind of composed display that was so often missing during Arsenal’s goalkeeping woes in recent years.
After starting last season’s FA Cup final win against Aston Villa in the central striker’s role he has coveted for much of his career, Walcott’s cool finish provided further evidence the winger might be ready to make a permanent transition this season.
There was also a tantalising glimpse into Arsenal’s future as 17-year-old French midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide made an eye-catching start 24 hours after an equally effervescent performance from fellow teenager Alex Iwobi.
And, having already secured the Asia Trophy earlier this month, the Gunners can now clinch a hat-trick of pre-season trophies if they defeat Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley next Sunday.
Despite his long spell with bitter rivals Chelsea, Cech was given a warm welcome by the Arsenal fans in his second appearance for the club.
Relieved to see Wenger finally sign a world-class keeper, the 33-year-old Czech’s first touch, comfortably holding a Kevin De Bruyne cross, was greeted with a standing ovation from large sections of the crowd.

SOMETHING SPECIAL  
Arsenal were unable to recapture the scintillating form that destroyed Lyon and Walcott wasted one of their few first half chances when he shot straight at goalkeeper Diego Benaglio from a tight angle.
Wolfsburg were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead when Timm Klose, unmarked 10 yards from goal, lashed wildly over from a deflected Andre Schurrle corner.
In the end, it took a moment of inspiration from Reine-Adelaide to break the deadlock.
Signed from the Lens academy last month after helping France win the European Under-17 Championships, Reine-Adelaide has been hailed by Wenger as “something special” and he showed why with a quality contribution to Walcott’s 50th minute goal.
A deft first touch and nimble turn took the youngster away from his marker and he advanced quickly towards the penalty area before slipping a clever pass through to Walcott, who calmly slotted past Benaglio.
There was still time for Cech to underline why Wenger paid £11 million to prise him away from Chelsea as he blocked Ricardo Rodriguez’s low drive, then got down smartly to keep out Josuha Guilavogui’s effort. Things are looking up then.