THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — Marouane Chamakh scored on his Arsenal debut Saturday to help his new club to a 1-1 draw with AC Milan on day one of the pre-season Emirates Cup.
After Georgios Samaras scored in the 89th minute to give Celtic a 2-2 draw with Lyon in the first game, Morocco striker Chamakh drifted onto a 36th-minute through ball by Andrei Arshavin to tap past goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
Alexandre Pato equalized for Milan in the 76th when he got a faint touch with his head to Clarence Seedorf’s free kick, guiding it in at the far post.
Chamakh almost set up a second goal in the 59th, beating an opponent on the left before slipping the ball to Arshavin, whose pass across the face of goal was just missed by Jack Wilshere.
Chamakh, who joined Arsenal on a free transfer after his contract with Bordeaux expired, was substituted to an ovation from a crowd including David Beckham and got the man-of-the-match award for his efforts.
"It was a good first game and good presence up front," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "He played with good intelligence. It’s only one game played but the attitude in training is very good and he can only get better."
Wilshere tussled impressively in midfield with Milan stalwart Seedorf and got forward on several occasions. The 18-year-old midfielder looked physically stronger than last season, when he spent four months on loan at Bolton to gain Premier League experience.
"I think I will keep him (this season)," Wenger said. "He can play on the flank or in the middle, deeper or wider as well. He should get a few games."
Laurent Koscielny made an assured Gunners debut in defence alongside Thomas Vermaelen, who stood in as captain because midfielder Cesc Fabregas only returns to training on Thursday after appearing in the July 11 World Cup final.
Wenger reiterated that Fabregas will stay at Arsenal despite Barcelona’s attempts to sign him, but urged his captain to commit publicly to the Gunners.
"Who can stop the speculation? Only Cesc," Wenger said.
In keeping with the traditional greeting for players returning to clubs where they were formerly popular, Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini was cheered by the home crowd as he warmed up but loudly jeered when he touched the ball during the game.
"We had only 10 days of training in our legs," AC Milan coach Massimo Allegri said. "We played against an Arsenal that had 15 days more than us. I think the team played very well today."
Arsenal plays Celtic on Sunday’s final day, while Milan meets Lyon.
Lyon was winning 2-0 with eight minutes left before Gary Hooper swept in a right-wing cross and Samaras headed in from close range.
Michel Bastos had put the French side ahead in the 28th with a curling free kick to the top corner, and Harry Novillo doubled the advantage nine minutes into the second period with a smashed 12-yard shot from Alexandre Lacazette’s low right-wing cross.
Celtic played some entertaining football but wayward finishing by Milan Midsun and Marc-Antoine Fortune denied the Scottish club more goals.
"We conceded two poor goals from our point of view but you can’t have everything," Celtic manager Neil Lennon said. "It’s a pre-season game and you can’t read too much into it but I’m pleased with the performance."
Celtic hosts FC Braga on Wednesday in the second leg of the teams’ Champions League qualifying match. Celtic lost the first game 3-0 but Lennon said his team can still advance to the playoffs, the winners of which will earn spots in the lucrative group stage.
"They’ll just get confidence from the performance, never mind the comeback," Lennon said. "It was very, very pleasing."