Published: 26 July 2013

By AKSHAY PATEL

ARSENAL completed their pre-season Asia Tour 2013 with an unconvincing win against Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama Stadium this afternoon (Friday).

Lukas Podolski's opener was cancelled out by Urawa's Yuki Abe, before the Gunners' young striker Chuba Akpom pounced on a defensive mistake to score what turned out to be the winner late on.

Following three straight victories, spirits were high in the Arsenal camp heading into the final match of the 16-day tour, and Arsenal were boosted by the return of trio Jack Wilshere, Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny.

Podolski, who scored a brace when playing for Bayern in the Saitama Stadium five years ago, opened the scoring in the 49th minute – just four minutes after entering the field. Ramsey's chip fell to the feet of Walcott, who squared the ball to Podolski and the German duly dispatched the ball home from close range with his first touch.

Abe then fired the hosts level after a corner was only half-cleared, much to the delight of the home fans. However, Arsenal retook the lead eight minutes from time after a mistake from Mitsuri Nagata gifted Akpom the ball, who rolled in his fourth goal on the tour, past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Arsenal end the tour having scored nineteen goals in four matches, with Frenchman Olivier Giroud top scoring with six goals.