New Delhi: Hannover 96 proved sturdier opposition than Arsenal had faced during their pre-season preparatory tour of Austria, yet with an experimental 4-3-3 formation, Arsene Wenger oversaw a positive scoreline despite the off-field dramas involving player exits.
It did not take long for the north Londoners to open the scoreline, yet it was to be the games only goal, when a fine passage of play was rounded-off by captain Francesc Fabregas.
The Spanish international capitalised on a scintillating reverse pass manufactured by creative forward Robin van Persie, and beat Hannover glovesman Robert Enke with considerable ease.
Arsenal's defence looked tight and compact, and while a central threesome in midfield may sometimes lack width, roaming right-back Emmanuel Eboue ensured that was not the case as his bombarding and driven play produced attacking opportunities.
Minutes before half-time he passed to Fabregas who was gliding down the right, before the Catalunya graduate whipped in a cross that failed to connect to a team-mate.
Hannover had chances to level the scoreline in the second half, but forward Mike Hanke, on the hour mark, opted to hold play up when he should have instinctively attacked the Vito Mannone's goal.
Ten minutes later and a familiar face to Premier League fans Mikael Forssell, formerly of Chelsea, had a chance to nod in a neutralising goal, but his header fell into the arms of the Arsenal goalkeeper.
The scoreline finished 1-0 but, perhaps somewhat ominously for the N5 outfit, Fiorentina target Emmanuel Eboue was seen throwing his shirt into the crowd before waving, as if to say goodbye, during the fixture's aftermath.
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