Bendtner scored but missed a late penalty
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Arsenal lacked fluency but nonetheless beat Paris St Germain to win their opening game of the Emirates Cup at the London club's home ground.
Mathieu Flamini put the Gunners ahead with a neat right-foot finish shortly before the break and Nicklas Bendtner added a second from close range.
Peguy Luyindula pulled a goal back with a near-post finish, while Mickael Landreau saved a Bendtner penalty.
In the tournament's earlier match, Valencia defeated Inter Milan 2-0.
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606: DEBATE
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Jamie Gavilan put the Spanish side ahead after 13 minutes, collecting a deep cross from Ruben Baraja before shooting under Francesco Toldo from a tight angle.
Inter wore a strip that resembled the St George cross and almost equalised through Maxwell but his strike hit the post.
David Villa's 20-yard free-kick took a slight deflection as it defeated Toldo for Valencia's second goal.
Flamini's strike for Arsenal came after Bendtner had chested a cross from Gael Clincy into his path.
The ball dropped perfectly for Flamini, although how much Bendtner knew about the cross remains open to question.
Arsenal's second goal came after Bendtner jumped with PSG keeper Landreau as they both tried to reach a corner.
Neither player made a clean contact with the ball and Bendtner reacted quickly to tap home the knock down and score his first goal at the Emirates Stadium.
But his low penalty was saved close to full-time after Alexander Hleb was tripped in the area.
Luyindula dragged a shot wide for PSG in the first half, while Pauleta sent a poor shot wide and was twice denied by the impressive Manuel Almunia.