Didier Drogba just can’t help himself. For so long Arsenal’s tormentor in chief during his days in a Chelsea shirt, the 35-year-old today returned to score a brace that won the Emirates Cup for Galatasaray.

Sure, it is only a friendly tournament and has no bearing on the season ahead, but it felt like he had delivered yet another punch to the gut of Arsene Wenger’ side.

Certainly, the Frenchman reacted like it meant a lot. He shouted at fourth official Andre Marriner after referee Jon Moss awarded a penalty 12 minutes from time for Ignasi’s Miquel slight push on the Ivorian striker.

On target: Drogba scored a late double to clinch the Emirates Cup

Spot on: Drogba sends Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way

Remember me? Drogba celebrates after the final whistle

MATCH FACTS

Arsenal Szczesny, Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Gibbs (Miquel 69), Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla (Zelalem 61), Walcott, Sanogo (Giroud 61)

Goal Walcott 38

Subs Martinez, Koscielny, Podolski, Akpom

Galatasaray Muslera; Semih, Riera, Chedjou, Eboue, Melo (Sarioglu 66), Engin Baytar (Gulselam 32),Altintop (Colak, 45), Amrabat, Elmander (Drogba 45)Umut Bulut (Sneijder 45)

Subs Nounkeu, Balta, Kazim-Richards, Kilic, Kurtrlus, Iscan

Goals Drogba pen 79, 88

Referee Jon Moss

Drogba picked himself up to send Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way and then spread his arms in celebration. Any usual match at the Emirates and it would have been clear baiting of supporters he has so often inflicted misery on.

But in truth, there were so many Galatasaray fans among the 60,000 crowd that at times it felt almost like the Ali Sami Yen in Istanbul. He was soaking up their cheers too.

That was the equaliser to Theo Walcott’s first-half opener, itself enough to take the cup away from Arsenal.

But he struck again to win the match for his team and show just what a class act he is, even in his winter years.

Four minutes from time, he collected Wesley Sneijder’s cross from the left with a cushioned touch that took him inside Per Mertesacker, then finished brilliantly past Szczesny.

The pair had arrived as half-time substitutes and turned the game on its head. Before Drogba’s introduction, Walcott’s cross that went straight in had been just reward for Arsenal’s play – enough to see them top the table ahead of Porto. But this is Galatasaray’s trophy, left to Emmanuel Eboue, the captain, to hold aloft. Oh the irony.

Opener: Walcott watched his cross-come-shot give Arsenal the lead

Smiles all round: Walcott celebrates with his Arsenal teammates

The match had been shaping up to be all about another striker at the other end of his career.

Wenger, prior to the Emirates Cup, bristled at the suggestion Arsenal have done zero transfer business this summer. Yaya Sanogo, the manager said, will make headlines.

Secured on a free from Auxerre at the start of the transfer window, the 20-year-old French striker was given little trumpeting but today, on his debut, we were given a glimpse of what Wenger meant.
Sanogo did not get on the scoresheet but his touch, positional awareness and presence on the pitch gave a burgeoning indication of his talent.

Sanogo missed Arsenal’s tour of the Far East after his exploits at the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey, where he finished his country’s top scorer with four goals as they lifted the trophy.

Return home: Emamanuel Eboue (right) captained Galatasaray on his return to former club Arsenal

New man: Yaya Sanogo made a promising start in his first Emirates appearance

Prior to his club debut, Wenger said: ‘Yaya Sanogo – he has not made headlines. Why? Because he is not 50 to 100 million. I’m quite confident he will make them soon on the pitch.

‘Sanogo will surprise you, because your expectation doesn’t look to be high. He will not surprise me because my expectation is very high. He’s a top class striker.’

With Liverpool insisting it is no go on Luis Suarez unless such high prices are paid, Wenger will hope Sanogo can live up to his acclaim. The young man needed to only look to Drogba for inspiration.