Arsenal draws with Napoli in Emirates Cup

Arsenal came back from two goal deficit to secure a draw in the Emirates Cup. Olivier Giroud and Koscielny saved Arsenal the ignominy of defeat in front of the sell out home crowd.
Arsenal started the proceedings in a lively manner but it was Napoli who drew the first blood. In the seventh minute Carl Jenkinson failed to clear a header and Lorenzo Insigne capitalized on it to open the scoring for the visitors.
Serge Gnabry who was playing on right flank missed a great opportunity to equalize when Pepe Reina failed to clear the ball.
In the 15th minute, Kevin Friend gave Arsenal the penalty as Gibbs tumbled in the box. On a closer look, it seemed a soft penalty as Gibbs fell quite easily.
But Podolski’s tame effort was easily saved by Reina.
After that Napoli looked to control the game and soon doubled their lead after some sloppy defending by the home team. Marek Hamsik gave a brilliant pass to Goran Pandev who rounded Fabianski to bury the ball in the empty net.
Just before the half time Mertesacker’s header was tipped over by Reina.
Frustrated with their team’s effort the home fans started jeering as soon as first half got over.
Arsenal started the second half with more conviction and looked threatening every time they moved up on the pitch. Shortly afterwards, Arsenal added more pace with the introduction of Theo Walcott and Oxalde-Chamberlain.
With huge pressure being built up by Arsenal, a goal looked imminent. Giroud struck a beautiful overhead kick from Walcott’s corner which went straight into the net thanks to a deflection by Sagna.
Arsenal stepped up the heat and they were rewarded when in the 86th minute Koscielny headed the equalizer through Arteta’s free kick.
The match ended with a final scoreline of 2-2.
In the other match of Emirates Cup, Galatasaray defeated FC Porto 1-0. Arsenal will face Galatasaray in the final rounds of matches in this two-day tournament.