Salah scores, new signing starts, wonderkid delivers – Arsenal win pre-season opener

The next batch of Arsenal youngsters on the Hale End production line got their chance to shine in pre-season against Boreham Wood

Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand of Arsenal lines up with his teammates before the pre-season friendly at Boreham Wood

Arsenal got their pre-season campaign under way with a 4-2 win over Boreham Wood on Saturday. It was a chance for the Gunners’ young guns to make their mark against the non-leaguers, with Mikel Arteta ‘s first team squad not back in proper training until Monday.

Mehmet Ali’s Arsenal side was full of recognisable names though, with a returning loanee and a real wonderkid getting on the scoresheet

Arsenal were 2-0 up early on in the contest, with Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand opening the scoring inside just four minutes. Then, five minutes later, Omar Rekik, signed from Hertha Berlin in 2021 and having been on loan ever since at various clubs, made it 2-0.

After Boreham Wood reduced the deficit, Oulad M’Hand on on hand to restore the two-goal advantage. New signing Lucas Nygaard started in goal, with the likes of Charlie Patino, back from his loan at Swansea, and Charles Sagoe Junior also playing the first half of the match.

Arsenal’s youngest ever first team player Ethan Nwaneri was introduced at half-time, alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly and a host of other players, and Nwaneri was also on the scoreshet, making it 4-1, managing to find the back of the net despite taking a tumble. Boreham Wood did pull another goal back but it ended with Arsenal winning 4-2.

Ali told arsenal.com aftewards: “Salah has matured really nicely. He’s had different loan experiences. He’s been unfortunate with injuries, but this season he’s been a bit of a leader in the group.