Sydney 0-2 Arsenal recap: Re-live all the action as Alexandre Lacazette scored on his debut

Lacazette in focus

Arsenal’s £52m record signing started on the bench but has clearly been brought in to spearhead the attack.

And first thing they will get him to do is to take over penalty taking duties, especially after Danny Welbeck had a second half spot kick saved.

Lacazette was promised a run-out and he came on as one of TEN changes in the 68th minute.

The France international immediately looked quick, dangerous and seized his chance to fire home from close range after 83 minutes. He has that wonderful knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Kolasinac in focus

He looks like the proverbial brick outhouse. But the very impressive thing about the Bosnian defender is that he can play left back, left wing back or left side of a back three.

That is exactly what Arsenal have needed together with a strong mentality, a toughness which will be welcome in the dressing room and is clearly a competitor on the pitch.

Hard to tell against weaker opposition, but Kolasinac looks a really good signing. Solid, versatile and almost out of the same mould as Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta because he looks so assured in different positions.

Five things John Cross learned from the game

Alexandre Lacazette scored on his first outing in an Arsenal shirt.

Lacazette, a 68th minute substitute, scored in the 83rd minute and Arsenal’s £52m record signing got a huge cheer.

Per Mertesacker opened the scoring after four minutes and Arsenal made ten substitutes after 68 minutes to give everyone a work-out.

The score would have been higher but for Sydney keeper Andrew Redmayne - an Arsenal fan who had a two week trial at Arsenal - who made a string of great saves, including one from Danny Welbeck’s second half penalty.

Here are five things John Cross learned from the game:

FT. Sydney 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal may have been hoping for a larger winning margin but that performance will have certainly pleased manager Arsene Wenger.

New signings Kolasinac and Lacazette both enjoyed impressive debuts while the youngsters who started the match really shone.

Lacazette will be delighted to get his first Arsenal goal out of the way, even if it wasn’t in a competitive fixture.

Importantly, Arsenal’s often-injury-ravaged squad came through 90 minutes unscathed and can now turn their attention to Wednesday’s game against Western Sydney Wanderers.

89 mins

We’re into the final minutes of the match but both sides are still looking lively. Arsenal haven’t given up on getting a third but they’ll need to do it quickly. Lacazette and Malen are getting some pretty rough treatment on the left flank, though, which is breaking up their rhythm a bit.

GOAL! Sydney 0-2 Arsenal (Lacazette)

It’s taken just over 10 minutes of game time for Alexandre Lacazette to get his first Arsenal goal.

He made a brilliant, late run into the box to meet Iwobi’s low cross and sweep the ball past Redmayne. Lovely stuff.

79 mins

Nketiah hits the post with a side-footed volley.

He timed his run to meet Xhaka’s corner perfectly but couldn’t place his shot inside the woodwork.

77 mins

Oxlade-Chamberlain takes a free-kick from 25-30 yards out and stings the palms of Redmayne.

Lacazette and Giroud have both been quiet so far.

75 mins

Giroud appears to be playing through the middle with Iwobi and Lacazette floating around either side.

The Nigerian finds himself in a bit of space but Redmayne makes yet another great save.

72 mins

Nketiah is the first of the subs to get a sight of goal. He twists his defender inside out before firing into the side netting.

Less than 20 minutes to go, can Arsenal find their rhythm with wholesale changes so late in the game?

Arsenal substitutions

Lacazette, Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xhaka, Monreal, Malen, Nketiah, Elneny, Maitland-Niles and Iwobi have all entered the fray, replacing the 10 outfield players who started the game.

62 mins

Arsenal have looked a bit flat since that penalty miss and I’d expect Wenger to make a few changes soon.

Lacazette is warming up on the sidelines with the rest of the squad

Redmayne saves Welbeck's penalty!

Welbeck sends his spot-kick just off centre and at the perfect height for Redmayne, who saves easily.

Justice has been done.

Penalty to Arsenal!

Welbeck makes a great run into the box and draws the keeper towards him before laying off to Walcott.

The England man shoots but a defender rushes back and appears to block it with his arms. Replays, though, shows he used his back.

53 mins

Nelson again beats his man on the right and finds space to send in a cross. it’s too high for Welbeck and Walcott but finds Bramall running into the box.

He takes a touch before hooting and it takes a strong save from Redmayne to keep it out.

Sydney’s brief resurgence appears to be over and Arsenal are back in control.

49 mins

A big chance for Nelson but he struggles to get the ball under control.

Ozil’s cross is scuffed into a defender and out for a corner.

Ozil sends in the set piece but Sydney clear their lines.

48 mins

Sydney looking much more confident early in this second half. They’re more of a physical presence, too.

Walcott is barged to the ground and appears to hurt his shoulder before giving the thumbs-up to the bench.

The second half is underway

We’re back underway at the ANZ Stadium. Wenger made one change to his team during the break, with Martinez coming on for Cech.

HT. Sydney 0-1 Arsenal

A dominant performance from Arsenal who will be disappointed not to lead by more than one.

Mertesacker’s goal separates the two sides but Bielik, Welbeck, Walcott and Willock all had good opportunities to extend the lead.

Nelson has been the game’s best player so far, creating chances for himself and others from the right wing.

Willock and Bramall have been impressive, too.

43 mins

Great work from Willock but he’s denied a goal by Redmayne.

The Arsenal youngster glides through the Sydney defence and finds himself one-on-one. His effort is kept out by the keeper, though, who is having a great game.

40 mins

Arsenal have eased off a bit, giving Sydney a foothold in the game. The hosts have made a few forays into Arsenal’s half but are struggling with that final pass.

35 mins

Sydney should be level. Mertesacker is beaten for pace before Cech makes an excellent save. Simon almost scores with the follow-up but the ball has gone too wide by the time he reaches it and his effort hits the outside of the post.

31 mins

Another corner and another decent chance for Arsenal.

Again, Bielik rises to meet it but can’t get the power on his header, which is easily saved by Redmayne.

26 mins

Sydney are completely pegged back in their own half. They’ve got so many men behind the ball that there’s no outlet for them. Every time they clear their lines Arsenal come back for another attack.

Twenty minutes to go until half time, Arsenal will be disappointed not to get at least one more goal by then.

23 mins

Youngsters Bramall (left wing) and Nelson (right wing) have been the stand-out players so far. They’re finding so much space for themselves and causing all sorts of problems. It’s only a matter of time before one of their crosses reaches Welbeck.

20 mins

Bramall wins a free-kick just outside the box, Welbeck has a shot at goal but it’s deflected over.

Ozil takes the corner and Bielik rises highest to meet it. Unfortunately for Arsenal, his effort sails over the bar.

17 mins

More good work from Nelson cutting in from the right before Welbeck takes the ball off him, drives into the box and sees his shot tipped over.

Ozil sends in the resulting corner, which finds Walcott but the England man can’t get his header on target.

13 mins

Arsenal’s unfamiliar-looking defence is playing a very high line but Mertesacker is doing a good job of organising Kolasinac and Bielik either side of him.

At the other end of the pitch, Nelson has got himself into some good positions out wide before sending in crosses. Neither Walcott nor Welbeck have connected with them yet but it looks ominous for the Australians.

8 mins

Arsenal are in complete control here. Ozil is, unsurprisingly, setting the tempo while Walcott has made numerous diagonal runs in behind the defence. He looks hungry for a goal today and is working hard.

GOAL! Sydney 0-1 Arsenal (Mertesacker)

Ozil sends in the corner and the hosts fail to deal with it.

Mertesacker, holding off his marker and facing away from goal, volleys in from four yards out.