HELSINKI, Southern Finland: Arsenal underlined why they are still in the hunt for Liverpool’s controversial Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez yesterday when they scraped a largely unconvincing 3-1 win over Manchester City in a pre-season friendly played in Helsinki.
The Gunners were distinctly short of firepower upfront, and although French striker Olivier Giroud got on the scoresheet, all the attacking initiative came from midfield and they could muster only four shots on target.
Big-spending City, on the other hand, appeared to have little appetite for the contest and after a bright start faded and failed to produce more than a single goal through Alvaro Negrado 12 minutes from the end - but it was too little too late.
The first goal came as early as the ninth minute when Arsenal winger Theo Walcott glided on to an incisive through ball from Aaron Ramsey to chip the ball over a stranded Joe Hart in the City goal.
Minutes later, Giroud, a half-time substitute, made the most of a defnsive mix-up between Hart and Kompany to nip in and only had to apply a deft fnishing touch, delicately chipping home for another goal for the London club.AFP
