Ethan Nwaneri scores as Arsenal XI beat Boreham Wood in opening pre-season game

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An Arsenal XI filled with academy players have beaten non-league side Boreham Wood in their opening pre-season match at Meadow Park.

A crowd of just under 500 fans saw an Arsenal XI beat Boreham Wood on Saturday afternoon, with several top young talents from the Hale End Academy impressing.

The game was a good opportunity for some of the best young talents to gain an opportunity ahead of Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad returning to training next week, and Mehmet Ali gave a lot of players a run out as he played two separate teams within the game.

New goalkeeper signing Lucas Martin-Nygaard was straight into the starting XI, but Chido Obi-Martin was not part of the squad, amid interest from Bayern Munich.

Charlie Patino, who faces an uncertain future at Arsenal, started the game after returning from a loan spell at Swansea City, whilst Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly began the game as substitutes.

Arsenal XI beat Boreham Wood in pre-season friendly

Arsenal took an early lead in the fifth minute through winger Salah Oulad M’Hand, who capitalised on an error on the back to fire into the back of the net.

The visitors doubled this lead just five minutes later as centre-back Omar Rekik rose high to head in from a corner.

Boreham Wood pulled one back in the 28th minute, as Ghanaian striker Kwesi Appiah rose to head in a cross beyond Nygaard, who could have perhaps done better.

Salah Oulad M’Hand then added another for Arsenal on the stroke of half time, cutting inside from the left before firing into the bottom corner.

Ali made 11 changes at half time, and Nwaneri scored within minutes of coming on after a nice exchange of passes with Ismael Kabia.

Boreham Wood scored again in the 64th minute as a trialist finished low beyond Brian Okonkwo after finding space on the end of a cross, and the game eventually ended 4-2 to Arsenal.

Starting XI: Lucas Nygaard (GK); Josh Robinson, Omar Rekik, Zane Monlouis, Osman Kamara, Charles Sagoe Jr; Charlie Patino, Ismail Oulad M’Hand; Khayon Edwards, Harrison Dudziak, Salah Oulad M’Hand.

Substitutes: Brian Okonkwo (GK), Alexi Rojas (GK), Joshua Nichols, Maldini Kacurri, Ayden Heaven, Michal Rosiak, Ismeal Kabia, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Ethan Nwaneri, Jimi Gower, Elian Quesada Thorn, Romari Forde.

Arsenal under-21s and under-18s pre-season fixtures set

Arsenal under-21s have six pre-season friendlies in total scheduled, facing a variety of senior and academy sides heading into August.

They will face Enfield Town on July 16th, before games against Rapid Vienna, Bishop’s Stortford, Lincoln City and Stoke City under-21s.

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Jack Wilshere’s under-18 side will face Hitchin Town FC and Hendon FC in August, as the bulk of the squad will likely earn some game time with the under-21s before the season starts.