Gunners claim Dutch repeat

Youngsters secure Amsterdam Tournament for Arsenal.

By Ashley Marshall   Last updated: 9th August 2008

Abdoulaye Konko Carlos Vela Arsenal v Sevilla

Vela: On the mark

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Carlos Vela's fourth-minute goal helped Arsenal to a hard-earned draw against Sevilla as they won the annual pre-season tournament for the third time in four years.

With one eye on next week's Champions League qualifier against FC Twente, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger opted for a youthful starting XI - with an average age of just 19 years and six months.

Arsenal topped the four-team table with eight points, three points ahead of second-place Inter Milan who defeated Ajax 1-0 on Saturday evening.

Justin Hoyte, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere all featured in Wenger's side, as did winger Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who made his first appearance for the senior squad.

Arsenal took an early lead when, after four minutes, Vela latched onto a loose ball following a poor clearance.

The striker - back from a loan spell with Osasuna having been granted a work permit - charged past defender Abdoulay Konko into the left side of the penalty area before dispatching a clinical, low finish into the opposite corner.

Dangerous

However, the Spaniards - who drew 0-0 against Inter in Friday's opening game - soon regrouped and looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

Arsenal were pressed back for long spells, but weathered the storm under the closed roof of the Amsterdam ArenA.

On 37 minutes, Lukasz Fabianski made a good reaction save to keep out a close-range effort from Arouna Kone.

Sevilla continued to press as half-time approached and Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano headed wide from six yards out when he really should have hit the target.

Mark Randall then almost headed a cross into the Arsenal net, before Fabianski stood up to parry a snapshot from substitute Javier Espinosa and then kept out a fierce angled drive from Jesus Navas as the Spaniards continued to dominate.

It should have been 1-1 when the ball dropped to Sevilla summer recruit Sebastien Squillaci in the six-yard box, but Fabianski made the save with his legs.

The equaliser eventually came 10 minutes from time when Ernesto Javier Chevanton swept home a low cross from Navas as the young Gunners tired.

Navas almost bagged a late winner for the Spaniards, but his back-post header struck the woodwork.

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