By IANS
London : Robin van Persie produced a moment of brilliance to fire Arsenal to a 2-1 victory over Internazionale and claim the Emirates Cup.
The Gunners showed plenty of spirit and glimpses of the quality they will need to have an impact on next season's English Premier League (EPL) title race during an entertaining encounter with the Italian champions Sunday, reports the EPL website.
Just when the match seemed to be heading towards a draw, van Persie – out since breaking his metatarsal in January – smashed home a winner following superb close control in the six-yard box.
After a quiet first half, with Arsenal on top, Inter snatched the lead on 52 minutes.
Midfielder Cesar floated the ball from the right and Honduras striker David Suazo got above Arsenal full-back William Gallas to power a header past Jens Lehmann in goal.
Arsenal replied on 68 minutes through Alexander Hleb. Following a break down the right, Sagna cut the ball back to the penalty spot. Francesco Toldo made a brilliant save to keep out Hleb's first effort, but had no chance of stopping the low shot into the corner from the rebound.
Then followed van Persie's winner.
Injured striker Michael Owen was again missing from the Newcastle United squad but they did not miss the England man as goals from Albert Luque and Andy Carroll secured a comfortable win over Serie A side Juventus during a friendly at St James' Park.
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce had hoped to have one or both Shola Ameobi and Owen fit for selection, but the pair was once again on the sidelines.
With summer signing Mark Viduka also yet to link up with the side following international duty, Martins and Luque took the chance to impress up front.
The Turin side set the pace early on and it was against the run of play when referee Mark Clattenburg awarded the hosts a ninth-minute penalty as Jonathan Zebina impeded James Milner in the area.
That gave Luque the opportunity to convert from the spot and grab his third goal in two games following a brace against Celtic.
The lead doubled when an astute pass from Charles N'Zogbia put Martins clear on goal. His powerful shot was parried by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon but the rebound reached Andy Carroll, who composed himself before firing across the World Cup-winning goalkeeper and into the net.
Allardyce made changes at the interval, with Kieron Dyer among the new arrivals and the midfielder nearly capped things off with a cheeky back-heel into the net, only for his effort to be disallowed for offside.