Arsene Wenger says he’s sure Theo Walcott will be an effective attacking component for Arsenal this season, after the England global got a goal and an assist in the 3-2 win over Man City on Sunday.
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Arsenal are also without Per Mertsacker until the New Year after he picked up a knee injury.
“I felt it was a game of intensity where both teams put a big effort in”.
However, an injury to Gabriel in the closing stages could see the Brazilian ruled out of the start of the new Premier League season along with long-term absentee Per Mertesacker.
Sergio Aguero punished Arsenal after Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Francis Coquelin had all wasted early chances by poking home the opener on the half-hour mark.
Arsenal drew level just after the break as Alex Iwobi found the bottom corner from the edge of the box before Alexis Sanchez found Theo Walcott with a superb ball before the forward chipped over Joe Hart for 2-1 in the 73rd minute.
Alexis Sanchez, who made his first start of pre-season, almost put Arsenal in front, but his free-kick from 20-yards out crashed against the crossbar in the 69th minute.
The influential Sanchez slipped in Walcott, who made no mistake with a delicate dink before Akpom profited from sloppy City play at the back to double the lead.
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“He’s in pain. Let’s hope the pain isn’t a sign of bad news”, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told a news conference.
