SINGAPORE -- Arsenal won the Barclays Asia Trophy after a 3-1 victory over Everton in the final at Singapore's National Stadium in front of 52,107 spectators.
Second half goals from Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil drove the Gunners to victory after Theo Walcott had given them the lead in the 22nd minute.
The possibility of a clean sheet in Petr Cech's debut for Arsenal was spoiled by a left-footed consolation goal by Everton substitute Ross Barkley.
It was Arsenal's inaugural appearance in the biennial four-team tournament that began in 2003, and was hosted by Singapore for the first time.
Arsenal named a full strength side, giving former Chelsea keeper Cech his first appearance. There was only one survivor -- midfielder Jack Wilshere -- from Wednesday's victory over a Singapore XI in the semifinals.
Everton gave starts to new signings Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu, with Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone getting the nod up front.
And it was Deulofeu who started the game in blazing fashion, linking up with full-back Seamus Coleman on the right in the fifth minute, getting behind the Arsenal defence only to see the ball run out of play.
And then three minutes later, he threatened again on the right, with a 50-metre run, before the Gunners blunted the danger.
Arsenal had few clear cut chances in the first 20 minutes, but Germany international Ozil delighted the crowd with an early back heel as he tried to link up with full-back Kieran Gibbs.
The FA Cup holders took the lead somewhat against the run of play after what initially appeared to be a hopeful ball from Cazorla. Walcott made a run to outpace Coleman and beat goalkeeper Joel Robles with a right-footed shot.
The Gunners were growing in confidence despite Olivier Giroud looking rusty up front. After a fluent passing move, Ozil set up Aaron Ramsey whose well-struck shot flashed wide of the goal in the 33rd minute.
Two minutes later, there were calls for a penalty when Chelsea transfer target John Stones brought down Wilshere but referee Craig Pawson awarded a corner instead.
Four minutes before half-time Everton thought they'd equalised after Kone's deflected shot only to see the linesman's flag raised for offside after a Luke Garbutt free-kick that Steven Naismith had headed onto the bar.
There were no further scares for Arsenal as the North London team headed into the break holding on to a slender advantage.
Arsene Wenger's side came out recharged and at their creative best. Ozil brilliantly released Walcott on the left but the forward shot wide after cutting in.
Following on from Ozil, it was the turn of Ramsey to provide the exquisite touch as he found Walcott with a back-heal to send the crowd to raptures.
In the 52nd minute, Cech was called upon to make his first significant contribution, diving away to his left to deflect a firm left-footed strike from Garbutt that was heading to the far corner.
Three minutes later, second-half substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's powerful run through the right ended in a cross aimed at the onrushing Giroud who dived forwards but narrowly failed to get a glancing header in.
However, the Gunners were not to be denied their well-deserved second. In the 58th minute, Ozil found Cazorla at the edge of the area. The Spaniard weaved his way around the box and his left-footed shot was perfectly placed to the near corner past the despairing dive of Robles.
In the 63rd minute, the Spaniard returned the favour to the German midfielder. Ozil's firm left-footed shot to the far corner from inside the area was laser-like and gave no chance to Robles. The crowd rose to their feet to salute the two maestros running the Arsenal midfield show.
It could well have been four in the 71st minute had Chamberlain's touch not let him down when faced with a one-on-one situation with Robles inside the box. The midfielder's delicate placement off his left foot was marginally wide of the far corner.
Finally, in the 75th minute, Everton got their consolation. A defensive error on the edge of the box resulted in the ball falling to the Toffees' second-half substitute Barkley, whose left-footed thunderbolt rocked the top corner.
That goal slowed down the tempo of the game with the Gunners content to close out the game by keeping possession in midfield.
At full-time, the Singapore crowd rose to their feet to salute Arsenal who continued from where they left off in the FA Cup final and could be destined for bigger things this season than the customary European spot.