Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe gave an Arsenal XI a 2-0 win over Leyton Orient in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Saturday.
A team featuring the likes of Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira were too strong for our League One opponents, and we controlled proceedings for most of the afternoon.
Mikel Arteta’s lineup consisted mainly of players who weren’t involved at the Euros or Copa America, having had a couple of weeks’ training already under their belts.
Youth players Ayden Heaven and Myles Lewis-Skelly were also involved from the start – the former in the centre of defence alongside Jurrien Timber, and Lewis-Skelly starting at left back.
There was little goalmouth action in the opening 20 minutes, and indeed our first shot on target resulted in the first goal. Good work on the left wing between Lewis-Skelly and Reiss Nelson resulted in Eddie Nketiah squaring for Jesus to tuck home.
The goal sparked a flurry of chances as we stepped up our efforts. Some wonderful close control from Jesus led to a chance for Nketiah that was pushed wide by the keeper, while Vieira shot over from close range.
Our forwards were buzzing around dangerously, combining well while Karl Hein was rarely troubled in goal, behind his youthful defence.
Smith Rowe came on at half-time and within three minutes had doubled our lead. Jesus was involved again, bringing a high ball under his spell before laying it off for Smith Rowe to rifle past the keeper.
Nketiah then had a low shot saved after an Odegaard lay off and Smith Rowe shot wide as we looked to press home our advantage.
The visitors had changed most of their team at half-time, while the bulk of our changes came on the hour mark. One of those introduced, Salah Oulad-M’hand, was involved instantly and had a shot deflected wide after a penetrative run following a switch of play.
The side had a much more youthful appearance now, but we continued to dictate the play. Charles Sagoe Jr forced a save from Sam Howes in the Orient goal late on, but we were well worth the 2-0 win.
Pre-season is now officially up and running – our next stop is the USA.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal XI: Hein (Nygaard 70), White (Rosiak 60), Timber (Rekik 46), Heaven (Monlouis 60), Lewis-Skelly (Nichols 60), Partey (Patino 46), Odegaard (Gower 60), Nelson (Nwaneri 60), Vieira (Smith-Rowe 46), Jesus (Salah Oulad-M’hand 60), Nketiah (Sagoe Jr 60).
Subs not used: Rojas-Fedorushchenko, Kacurri, Ismail Oulad-M’hand)
Leyton Orient: (First-half) Howes, James, Cooper, Simpson, Sweeney, Warrington, Brown, Agyei, Galbraith, O’Neill, Kelman.
Leyton Orient: (Second-half) Howes, Beckles, Cooper, Simpson, Happe, Trialist A, Pratley, Agyei, Trialist B, Perkins, Jaiyesimi.
WHAT’S NEXT
The first team squad jet off to Los Angeles on Sunday, playing Bournemouth in the early hours of Thursday (UK time) then Manchester United at 1am (UK time) on Sunday, July 28. The USA Tour concludes with a match against Liverpool in Philadelphia at 12.30am (UK time) early on Thursday, August 1.
