Arsenal kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win against League One side Leyton Orient in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday.
Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe gave Arsenal a 2-0 win over Leyton Orient.
A team featuring the likes of Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira were too strong for the League One opponents.
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 the Gunners’ 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.
Smith Rowe came on at half-time and within three minutes had doubled Arsenal’s lead. Jesus was involved again, bringing a high ball under his spell before laying it off for Smith Rowe to rifle past the keeper.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s first team squad will jet off to Los Angeles on Sunday, and play Bournemouth in the early hours of Thursday then Manchester United at 1am on Sunday, July 28.
The USA Tour will conclude with a match against Liverpool in Philadelphia at 12.30am early on Thursday, August 1.
