EMMANUEL Adebayor struck twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat hosts Ajax 3-2 at the Amsterdam Tournament on Friday night.

With a Champions League qualifier in Holland against Steve McClaren's FC Twente fast approaching, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had suggested this encounter would serve as "ideal preparation" for the opening of the new campaign.

So it proved, as the Dutch side - beaten by FC Twente in a play-off for a crack at Europe's elite club competition - went into the break 2-0 ahead following quick-fire goals from Uruguay striker Luis Suarez and highly-rated captain Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

Arsenal rallied in the second half and were given a lifeline through Adebayor's bullet header - before, with 15 minutes left, substitute Nicklas Bendtner levelled the scores.

There was still time for a winner too - which came when Adebayor slotted home from Denilson's pass following another slick passing move by the Barclays Premier League club.

Next up are Spanish side Sevilla tomorrow night, before the action starts for real some 70 miles south-east of the Dutch capital at the Gelredome in Arnhem on Wednesday when Wenger will go head to head with former England manager Steve McClaren to reach the lucrative group stages of the Champions League.

Arsenal named a strong XI, which included a first start of pre-season for Euro 2008 winner Cesc Fabregas - while defender Kolo Toure also featured, fit again following his bout of malaria.

The visitors should have taken the lead inside three minutes when a fine lay-off from Theo Walcott sent Adebayor racing clear.

The big African - sporting a new, short haircut - stayed ahead of his marker and drew the goalkeeper, only to then shoot too close to Maarten Stekelenburg.

Arsenal again went close when Emmanuel Eboue's long-range effort was parried by Stekelenburg, and fell to Adebayor. However, his snapshot was blocked on the goalline by defender Vurnon Anita.

The Ajax goalkeeper was again in action after 30 minutes when he dived full stretch to his left to save acrobatically from Fabregas' 20-yard drive.

Captain William Gallas was looking assured at the heart of the Arsenal defence.

But it was Ajax who went in front on 34 minutes.

Toure stepped in front of Gallas to head out a deep ball from the right. However, it was only half-cleared and dropped to Suarez - and the Uruguayan promptly swivelled to fire a spectacular effort in off the underside of the bar.

It got worse for the Gunners two minutes later when Huntelaar - reportedly tracked by a couple of Barclays Premier League teams - drilled a low, angled strike into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the penalty area.

At the start of the second half, Arsenal had what looked a certain penalty turned down by referee Kevin Blom when Fabregas was tripped by Anita as he weaved into the right side of the area.

It may have been billed as a friendly. But it was competitive enough, with Gallas and Ajax's Gabri both cautioned - swiftly followed by Fabregas as the hour mark approached.

Adebayor almost latched on to a stray back pass as Arsenal continued to press - and it was the Togo striker who headed in an inch-perfect right-wing cross from Eboue on 67 minutes to put the visitors back in the match.

Bendtner replaced Walcott, with Robin van Persie dropping into the left of midfield.

It proved a shrewd move as the strikers combined to draw Arsenal level.

Adebayor this time got to a short back pass ahead of the Ajax goalkeeper, before taking the ball wide to the goalline.

Stopping it just in play, he rolled a pass back to the penalty spot - where Bendtner smashed in the equaliser.

The momentum was with the Gunners, and Adebayor won it when he slotted home from close range.

In the other match this evening, Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan played out a goalless draw with Spanish side Sevilla.