French striker Yaya Sanogo scored four times as Arsenal crushed Portuguese champions Benfica 5-1 at the Emirates Cup friendly tournament in London on Saturday.
The 21-year-old, who has never scored a competitive goal for the club, claimed a first-half hat-trick and added another goal in the second half to upstage star signing Alexis Sanchez, who made his first appearance as a late substitute.
Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell, back at Arsenal after three seasons out on loan, scored the hosts’ other goal, with Nicolas Gaitan replying for Europa League runners-up Benfica.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed Sanogo and Campbell, 22, for their displays and said that he did not intend to send either of them out on loan this season.
Wenger added: “It’s very difficult to draw any conclusions after a game like that. But for long spells we played the way we want to play football, and that’s the most positive thing.”
The game at the Emirates Stadium followed the 2-2 draw between Valencia and Monaco in the first match of the four-team friendly competition, which concludes on Sunday.
Wenger used the occasion to cast his eye over some fringe players, with new signing Calum Chambers, starting in an unfamiliar position at centre-back alongside fellow full-back Nacho Monreal.
Sanogo broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a clever back-heeled finish from Ramsey’s right-wing cross.
The adventurous Bellerin then teed up Campbell to bludgeon home a left-foot volley in the 40th minute.
There was time for Sanogo to complete his hat-trick before the interval. He tucked away a volleyed cross from Campbell in the 44th minute and then flicked in a centre from Kieran Gibbs at the second attempt in stoppage time.