Arsenal will go into the new campaign in confident mood after easing to a 2-0 win over Lyon in their final pre-season friendly.
A strong Gunners side made a dominant start and were two goals up inside half an hour, first William Saliba and then Gabriel heading home from corners as set-pieces proved a regular problem for the visitors and a familiar source of success for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The scoresheet was not troubled after the break, though Bukayo Saka went close as he headed against the post. Calafiori came off the bench to make his debut, capping a successful afternoon for the hosts in the Emirates Cup before the serious business begins.
Arsenal kick off their Premier League campaign next weekend at home to Wolves, with a tough start then including trips to Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham before mid-September.
With just a week to go until that season opener, it was no surprise that Mikel Arteta named near enough his strongest available side for the first time this summer.
Declan Rice and Saka came in to start, with Kai Havertz moving back up front and Gabriel Martinelli getting the nod on the left wing. Jurrien Timber missed out, as he continues to battle a foot issue, but Riccardo Calafiori was named on the bench and serenaded as he warmed up in the first-half.
By the time the Italian jogged over towards the North Bank, his new team-mates were firmly in control. Saka had an early header saved, while there were immediately signs that Arsenal’s set-piece qualities had not diminished over the summer.
The opening goal came within ten minutes, Rice clipping a corner into the middle and Saliba finding himself in enough space to nod home, in what was a sign of things to come.
Thomas Partey and Saliba could both have scored as the ball dropped free from another dangerous Rice delivery, and it was no surprise the when the second goal did arrive in similar fashion. Rice swung the latest corner to the back post, Lucas Perri took a swipe at thin air and Gabriel was presented with an empty net to head into.
Gabriel Martinelli was a real threat down the left but could not make the most of the chances that came his way. Martin Odegaard played him clean through and the Brazilian lost the ball when trying to square for Havertz, who then set Martinelli away later in the half. This time the winger could not get the ball out of his feet, and his penalty appeals were waved away as Clinton Mata stuck with him.
Georges Mikautadze should have scored before the break, somehow failing to make clean contact when picked out by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, making his return to north London.
Arsenal were similarly in control after the break, if not quite as intense in their play. Thomas Partey fired wide when the ball dropped to him in the box, before Saka headed against the post after being picked out by a brilliant Oleksandr Zinchenko cross.
Potentially the biggest roar of the afternoon came after 65 minutes, as Calafiori was introduced for his first Arsenal appearance. The Italian came on to replace Zinchenko at left-back, but within five minutes had popped up in central midfield, left wing and briefly up front.
Jorginho was one of six players introduced in the closing stages and he failed to clear the danger as Lyon broke from a corner, allowing Ernest Nuamah to run clean through on goal. David Raya, called into serious action for the first time, made a superb save.
A planned penalty shootout after the match was cancelled, as the Gunners instead went straight to the trophy presentation for the trophy presentation. They will hope to be lifting more significant silverware come May.
