So after an end-to-end first half with two Theo Walcott goals, but shoddy defending allowing Benfica to go in at 2-2, Arsenal moved through the gears in the second half to record an impressive pre-season result.

Lisandro Lopez’s unfortunate own goal put Arsenal back in front, with fine strikes from Olivier Giroud and Alex Iwobi adding gloss. Arsène Wenger will be feeling better about the Sánchez situation after that attacking display.

Arsenal take on Sevilla tomorrow – you can join Rob Smyth for that one. Next up on Quest, it’s Wheeler Dealers. Thanks for joining me. Bye!

That’s that. Arsenal win, and in some style!

89 mins: Raul Jimenez barrels into the Arsenal defence and wins a corner, but Arsenal clear. There won’t be any injury time...

88 mins: This Benfica defence will be looking forward to the final whistle. Arsenal have been rampant in the second half.

87 mins: Oxlade-Chamberlain is given space on the right, and his long-range cross finds Giroud, whose cut-back is headed clear.

85 mins: Kolasinac continues to make a nuisance of himself down the left, where he has pushed up to wing-back since Monreal’s arrival. Lacazette collects a pass from the Bosnian, but his inswinging cross drifts through to Cesar.

84 mins: Admirable bullishness here that definitely won’t age badly:

82 mins: Jimenez rolls past Oxlade-Chamberlain’s rather limp challenge and fizzes a shot just wide of the far corner. Giroud is limping after a heavy challenge at the other end, but Arsenal have used all their subs.

80 mins: Chrien’s cross is headed away by Monreal, and lands at the feet of Jimenez – but his mishit shot trickles wide.

78 mins: There’s been a scrappy period of play as both sides try to adjust to their new set-ups. Lacazette looks to be playing just off Giroud, rather than alongside him.

76 mins: Quick thought – I know this is a friendly, but those substitutions took almost five minutes, none of which will be added to injury time. IFAB are reportedly considering the introduction of clock stoppages – wouldn’t substitutions be a good place to start?

74 mins: Wenger makes five changes in one go. Off: Xhaka, Iwobi, Nelson, Walcott and Maitland-Niles. On: Ramsey, Ozil, Monreal, Oxlade-Chamberlain... and Alex Lacazette!

72 mins: Pizzi, probably Benfica’s best attacking performer, forces Ospina into a save low to his left with an angled snap shot. It’s his last involvement, as he’s replaced by Ruben Dias. Mexico’s Raul Jiménez is on up front, replacing Seferovic.

Arsenal really burning through the gears now, as Kolasinac cuts the ball back to Giroud, who lays the ball off smartly to Iwobi. He takes a touch and powers a shot past Cesar, and into the roof of the net!

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68 mins: Nifty interplay affords Maitland-Niles a little space on the left, and his cross is volleyed on target by Giroud. Cesar is down quickly to turn the ball away.

67 mins: Nelson has been really impressive down the right – it will be interesting to see if he gets any Premier League action in the coming weeks. He’s caused both Eliseu and Grimaldo no end of problems.

65 mins: Salvio has a half-chance at the other end, but scuffs a shot that Ospina collects comfortably.

A beauty of a cross from Reiss Nelson, cutting back onto his left and curling the ball into Giroud’s path. The striker could have headed it, but instead hooks the ball back across goal with his left foot. Lovely stuff.

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62 mins: Xhaka appears to be carrying a slight ankle knock – not ideal with Coquelin already off with a similar injury. Giroud and Iwobi combine on the edge of the Benfica box, before the latter is dispossessed.

60 mins: Rui Vitoria makes three changes – Rafa Silva replaces Jonas, Alex Grimaldo is for Eliseu at left-back, and Slovakian prospect Martin Chrien, signed this summer from Viktoria Plzen, replaces goalscorer Cervi.

57 mins: Walcott should have had his hat-trick here! The impressive Nelson slots a low cross to Giroud. He turns his man and lays the ball off to Walcott, who takes a touch to make sure – then blazes over from three yards out. Oh Theo!

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56 mins: If the scoreline stays like this, Arsenal will have six points – three for the win, and one for each goal. Sevilla, tomorrow’s opponents, will have four. Exciting stuff.

“Two goals for Theo Walcott already” says Charles Antaki. “Where has Arsène Wenger been hiding this young gem?”

I’m prepared to stand up for Walcott, as every time I watch him, he plays really well. I’m also prepared to accept this clearly isn’t always the case.

It’s cleared but is swiftly returned to Walcott, who is being played onside. His cross towards Giroud is cut out by a stretching Lisandro Lopez – but the ball skids in off the near post!

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51 mins: Augusto handles the ball as Nelson tries to flick it past him. Arsenal free kick, from which Nelson digs out an awkward, curling cross...

49 mins: Salvio’s pass slices through the Arsenal back three and finds Seferovic, who cuts the ball back across the six-yard box. Unfortunately for Benfica, nobody in a red shirt is anywhere near him.

47 mins: Salvio causes more problems down the right but sees his cross clear. Arsenal break and Iwobi races down the touchline – but his cross towards Giroud is caught by Julio Cesar.

Calum Chambers replaces Rob Holding in the only Arsenal half-time change. For Benfica, Lisandro López replaces Jardel in central defence. Both teams can make seven subs in total.

Quest are padding out half-time with a quick guide to French polishing. Sky Sports, take note. Use a 50-50 varnish mix, take it steady and buff the dry surface, is the gist. I hadn’t thought about French polishing for a good 20 years.

It would be remiss of me not to mention that Arsenal offered 400 London firefighters and their families tickets to this weekend’s football, as a gesture of appreciation after the Grenfell Tower fire in June.

“Heroic is a word we will often hear in a football context but these brave men and women truly embody what it means to be a hero,” Wenger wrote in today’s matchday programme.

A lively encounter so far, with Arsenal scoring two artfully constructed goals, but conceding twice as their defence has let them down. It’s like football never went away. More soon.

44 mins: One last foray forward from Arsenal, Maitland-Niles turning his marker before racing forward, but he’s outnumbered in the Benfica penalty area. One minute of added time.

42 mins: Benfica are pinging the ball around among themselves as we tick down towards half-time.

More abject Arsenal defending as they try to pass it around at the back – but Maitland-Niles gives it away and Pizzi’s diagonal ball deflects into Eduardo Salvio’s path. He drills the ball beyond Ospina, via another slight deflection, and we’re level again!

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38 mins: Kolasinac barrels down the left again, before picking out Elneny, who tries to find Walcott in space but badly overhits his pass.

37 mins: The rain continues to pour in North London, and we’re being treated to the season’s first shots of a sodden Arsène Wenger pacing the touchline.