1-0 to the Arsenal! Premier League team wow their Sydney fans with a string of public appearances weeks after 'money-grabbing' Liverpool's flying visit

  • Arsenal are in Sydney for two pre-season games against A-leage sides Sydney FC and Western Sydney 
  • They dominated from whistle to whistle at a packed ANZ Stadium beating Sydney FC 2-0 on Thursday night
  • Even before that, the team impressed Australians with a public appearance hours after landing on Tuesday 
  • In stark contrast, Premier League rivals Liverpool arrived in Sydney on the morning of their match in May

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Arsenal have shown rivals Liverpool how it's done after thoroughly impressing Australians during their visit to Sydney.

On Tuesday, they arrived at Sydney Airport to much fanfare, with players stopping to take photos with hundreds of fans waiting eagerly for a glimpse of their sporting idols – despite being ordered to move along to avoid gridlock in rush hour traffic.

Just four hours later, coach Arsene Wenger made a public appearance overlooking the iconic Sydney Harbour.

He spoke frankly about the club's transfer plans in front of dozens of journalists flanked by three first team regulars: Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.

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Arsenal have shown rivals Liverpool how it's done after thoroughly impressing Australians during their visit to Sydney. Above, players hold up a banner thanking fans for their support

Arsenal have shown rivals Liverpool how it's done after thoroughly impressing Australians during their visit to Sydney. Above, players hold up a banner thanking fans for their support

The Gunners, in town for two pre-season friendly games, dominated from whistle to whistle at a packed ANZ Stadium

The Gunners, in town for two pre-season friendly games, dominated from whistle to whistle at a packed ANZ Stadium

They also brought gifts for their host and the chief executive made an impromptu speech.

One oversight was that the moderator from London hadn't learned the names of some big Australian names, including Sydney FC manager Graham Arnold and Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic.

Although it didn't go down too well with the Australians, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, it didn't stop Arnold from going on a 'charm offensive.'

'We feel like we're journalists here as well, we want to ask you questions,' he reportedly told Wenger.

A day later, Arsenal players including Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil posed for pictures at the launch of their new kit.

Others like Danny Welbeck met young players during the Emirates Kids Clinic with Arsenal FC at Sydney University.

 Arsenal arrived at Sydney Airport on Tuesday to much fanfare, with many of the players including Alexandre Lacazette (above) stopping to take photos with fans

 Arsenal arrived at Sydney Airport on Tuesday to much fanfare, with many of the players including Alexandre Lacazette (above) stopping to take photos with fans

Players from club pose for pictures during the unveiling of Arsenal FC's new third kit at the Overseas Passenger Terminal

Players from club pose for pictures during the unveiling of Arsenal FC's new third kit at the Overseas Passenger Terminal

Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil at the launch of the new 3rd kit on Wednesday

Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil at the launch of the new 3rd kit on Wednesday

In stark contrast, Liverpool brought their players over to Australia on the morning of their clash against Sydney in May.

The fly-in, fly-out tour, their fourth in as many years, was quickly arranged with no public appearances and only utilised long-retired players for promotion and community events.

Then, the game against Sydney FC proved so dull that fans resorted to cheering on the paper planes being thrown at the pitch instead of the players.

As well as many players visibly suffering the effects of jet-lag, Liverpool also brought out four former players to put a match dubbed ‘meaningless’ by the Herald's Michael Lynch in a searing analysis.

He described it as ‘largely a hit and run exercise for the EPL side to grab a large chunk of Australian supporters' money and run.'

Danny Welbeck high fives a young player during the Emirates Kids Clinic with Arsenal FC at Sydney University on Wednesday

Danny Welbeck high fives a young player during the Emirates Kids Clinic with Arsenal FC at Sydney University on Wednesday

Welbeck meets young players during the Emirates Kids Clinic with Arsenal FC at Sydney University on Wednesday

Welbeck meets young players during the Emirates Kids Clinic with Arsenal FC at Sydney University on Wednesday

In the aftermath, more attention was paid to ABC's 'excruciating' coverage of the match than anything else as angry fans took to social media to blast it.

However, he added that it appeared to be Sydney FC to seemed to be clock-watching before limping to a 3-0 loss.

Thursday night’s sold-out match between Arsenal and Sydney FC proved much more thrilling.

It took Alexandre Lacazette just 15 minutes to justify his $79 million price tag, scoring on his debut in the English Premier League team's 2-0 defeat of the A-League champions Sydney.

The Gunners - in town for pre-season friendly games with Sydney FC and Western Sydney - dominated from whistle to whistle at a packed ANZ Stadium, despite having only a couple of goals to show for it.

Arsene Wenger poses with the CEO of NSW Destination and Arsenal players Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Petr Cech 

Arsene Wenger poses with the CEO of NSW Destination and Arsenal players Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Petr Cech 

Thursday night's sold-out clash between Arsenal and Sydney delighted the 80,432 fans in the stadium

Thursday night's sold-out clash between Arsenal and Sydney delighted the 80,432 fans in the stadium

An Arsenal fan holds up a scarf before the start of the friendly soccer match between Sydney FC and Arsenal FC 

An Arsenal fan holds up a scarf before the start of the friendly soccer match between Sydney FC and Arsenal FC 

One reason was weak finishing, an issue club-record signing Lacazette promptly resolved in the 83rd minute with a run timed to perfection, to the delight of the 80,432 fans in the stadium.

Sydney may have put on a lacklustre performance against Liverpool in May, but on Thursday night, the team's unlikely new hero Andrew Redmayne pressed his case for a starting spot this season with a brilliant display.

The maligned gloveman, who trialled at Arsenal for two weeks as a teenager, produced the performance of his career with several top-string saves.

The 28-year-old made a string of stellar saves, even repelling Danny Welbeck from the penalty spot.

Although Wenger doesn't remember the two-week period 12 years ago, the reserve goalkeeper's performance impressed him.

Liverpool, on the other hand, brought their players over to Australia on the morning of their match against Sydney. Above, Roberto Firmino of Liverpool takes a shot at goal during the game on May 24

Liverpool, on the other hand, brought their players over to Australia on the morning of their match against Sydney. Above, Roberto Firmino of Liverpool takes a shot at goal during the game on May 24

'If he was with us, we made a mistake,' Wenger said.

'At the end of the day I would say their goalkeeper was man of the match.'

At 16, he trialled at Highbury for a fortnight and nearly had pen to paper when the club decided to sign a 15-year-old Wojciech Szczesny instead.

Redmayne, who remains a Gunners fan despite the let-down, could hardly believe what he was hearing when told Wenger had singled him out for praise.

'I guess it's pretty exciting,' Redmayne said.

'But it's always good to play well in the first game of the year, and I'm sure I can build on that and get on a roll.'