CLINICAL Arsenal scored twice in the final 12 minutes to deny Town a third win in four meetings with Premier League opposition.

Town, who got the better of Blackburn in a friendly and Birmingham in the FA Cup last season, had looked in line to plunder victory in their final pre-season outing – and the Herbert Chapman Trophy to boot – when James Berrett drove in a fine 75th-minute goal.

But efforts by Sanchez Watt (79 minutes) and Nacer Barazite (88) meant Arsenal collected the cut glass, much to the delight of an impressive turn-out of 3,547 of their fans in a terrific 19,044 crowd who enjoyed a showdown which featured a entirely different home line-up in each half.

Eighteen-year-old Dutch midfielder Barazite celebrated his winner as if it had earned a major pot, and cynics would suggest it will be the only prize Arsenal collect this season.

But there was still plenty of quality in a relatively inexperienced Gunners squad, which made Town’s performance all the more encouraging.

Starting with Matt Glennon in goal, a back four of Andy Holdsworth, Chris Lucketti, Andy Butler and David Unsworth, a midfield of Gary Roberts, Jim Goodwin, Michael Collins and Joe Skarz and a front two of Danny Cadamarteri and Luke Beckett, Town more than matched their visitors in the first half.

Glennon pulled off two good saves from Mexican international striker Carlos Vela, denied Henri Lansbury, then foiled frontman Theo Walcott with a double-block in the 43rd minute.

But Town also had chances, with Polish international keeper Lukasz Fabianski making the first of a string of stops from Cadamarteri, who linked neatly with new boy Roberts.

Roberts was himself denied when he cut in from the right and shot from the edge of the penalty area and again when he curled in a left-foot effort after the busy Goodwin dispossessed Kieran Gibbs.

Last season’s 12-goal top scorer Beckett had the kind of opportunity he would normally bury in the 17th minute, but after breaking clear, was foiled by backtracking centre-back Gavin Hoyte’s well-timed tackle.

Then, on 35 minutes, Lucketti found himself in space to meet Roberts’ free-kick, but headed wide.

Boss Stan Ternent’s second-half pick was Alex Smithies in goal (Simon Eastwood was given the final six minutes), Tom Clarke and Robbie Williams at full-back, Nathan Clarke and David Mirfin in the centre of defence, Malvin Kamara, Jon Worthington, Berrett and Daniel Codman along the middle and Phil Jevons and Keigan Parker up front.

They matched the first-half XI for endeavour, and Jevons was just wide with a bending shot in the 52nd minute.

Berrett’s low strike from the edge of the penalty box beat Vito Mannone with the aid of a deflection while 17-year-old Londoner Watt blazed over from close range and had a shot saved by Smithies before finally converting Jay Simpson’s cross to level.

Eastwood got a hand to Barazite’s rising shot, but couldn’t keep it out.

Town first half: Glennon, Holdsworth, Unsworth, Goodwin, Lucketti, Butler, Roberts, Collins, Beckett, Cadamarteri, Skarz.

Town second half: Smithies (Eastwood, 84mins), T Clarke, Williams, Worthington, N Clarke, Mirfin, Kamara, Berrett, Jevons, Parker, Codman (Killock, 74mins).

Arsenal: Fabianski (Mannone, HT), J Hoyte (Fonte, 64mins), Gibbs, Ramsey (Emmanuel-Thomas, HT), Djourou (Bartley, 64mins), G Hoyte (Frimpong, HT), Lansbury (Nordveit, 64mins), Randall, Vela (Simpson, HT), Walcott (Barazite, HT), Wilshere (Watt, HT).

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).