Croatia striker Eduardo da Silva celebrated receiving a work permit with his first Arsenal goal against Lazio in the opening match of the Amsterdam Tournament.

Young Dane Nicklas Bendtner also produced another impressive display, putting the Barclays Premier League club ahead in the first half.

Although it was another decent workout, in defence there is certainly still plenty of work to do - as at times the Gunners looked anything but secure in front of their own goal and allowed Macedonian striker Goran Pandev to score a soft equaliser.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is expected to name a strengthened side for the game against hosts Ajax on Saturday night.

However, Brazil-born Eduardo - signed from Dinamo Zagreb for £7million in the wake of Thierry Henry's departure to Barcelona - can expect to get another chance to stake his claim for a regular place in the team when the new season kicks off against Fulham next weekend following a sharp display.

The warning signs in defence, though, were there early on, as central pairing of Johan Djourou and Philippe Senderos were often drawn out of position, along with young full-back Armand Traore.

Senderos, captain for the day, did, though, make a fine saving tackle to deny Pandev in the 14th minute.

The Macedonian striker beat the offside trap and took the ball around a diving Manuel Almunia.

However, Senderos recovered ground quickly to slide the ball behind just as Pandev looked to roll a shot into the empty net.

That chance proved a wake-up call for the English team.

And the Gunners promptly took the lead on 18 minutes through a fine finish from Bendtner.

A 20-yard effort from Cesc Fabregas cannoned off Guglielmo Stendardo, and straight into the path of the young Dane, who looked just on-side.

It seemed as if Bendtner had taken the ball too wide around the keeper.

However, the 6ft 3ins striker promptly drilled a low shot back across goal, between two men on the line and into the far corner.

After 25 minutes, Eduardo arrived at the far post to meet a corner from the right, but could not direct his header on target.

However, the Italians slowly began to gain the upper hand as the half-time interval approached and the equaliser came five minutes from the break.

A corner from the right was only half cleared. Eduardo tried to control the ball facing his own goal, and went down appealing for a foul, when any contact looked negligible.

The referee waved play on and Pandev spun to drill in an equaliser from 10 yards.

Lazio were soon in the ascendancy again during the second half, as they started to close down quickly in midfield.

In the 54th minute, though, Arsenal went back into the lead.

A corner from Tomas Rosicky on the left found its way through to Eduardo, lurking on the six-yard line.

The striker needed no second invitation, and bulleted a header into the bottom corner for his first Arsenal goal.

Wenger sent on Robin van Persie just after the hour mark, the Dutchman and former Feyenoord player receiving a good reception from the home crowd.

With 20 minutes left, Arsenal were exposed at the back again.

A low ball from the right came through for Tommaso Rocchi, but, under pressure, he fired over from close range.

Then, somehow, Arsenal failed to extend their lead. Van Persie broke down the right and into the area.

He drew the keeper, before cutting the ball back for Rosicky.

The Czech midfielder unselfishly fed Justin Hoyte on the overlap, but the Englishman then managed to sidefoot his close-range effort across goal and off the far post.

Van Persie almost caught out Lazio keeper Marco Ballotta with a long-range effort.

Wenger will give more of an indication of his first-choice starting XI against Ajax - when the Arsenal manager will expect an improved display at the back and more of the same in attack.