Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (left) presses forward during the game against Monaco.

Arsenal were once again prevented from winning the Emirates Cup as they slipped to a narrow defeat at the hands of Monaco.

Following a big win on Saturday the Gunners, who had big-money summer recruit Alexis Sanchez starting for the first time, were favourites to collect the trophy but a 1-0 loss means Arsene Wenger’s side once again missed out in front of their own fans.

Valencia won the competition having amassed nine points, one more than the Gunners who could not find the goal against Monaco to win their own tournament for the first time in four years.

Radamel Falcao scored the only goal of the game in the first half, although Arsenal will be aggrieved that they were not awarded a late penalty for a foul on substitute Chuba Akpom.

The game marked 15 years to the day since Gunners favourite Thierry Henry signed from Juventus – and a new prospective hero made his first start for the club as Wenger named Chilean winger Sanchez in his initial line-up.

But, having won 5-1 against Benfica 24 hours earlier, Arsenal struggled against the Ligue 1 outfit.

With Saturday’s four-goal hero Yaya Sanogo and fellow goalscorer Joel Campbell rested from the squad, Wenger’s side struggled to play at the same high tempo that had seen them blow Benfica away.

Valencia finished the tournament on top with nine points after coming from behind to beat Benfica 3-1 in yesterday’s early kick-off.

Derley opened the scoring early on for the beaten Europa League finalists but a 10-minute second-half salvo saw Valencia take victory. Jose Luis Gaya levelled four minutes after the interval with Pablo Piatti and Andres Guardado giving Nuno Espirito Santo’s side the win and success in the pre-season tournament.