The Arsenal u21s kicked off pre-season with their traditional game against Boreham Wood on Saturday, pulling off a 2-2 draw despite missing many key players.
Max Dowman with the Arsenal first team on tour in Spain (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Photo via Arsenal.com
The Arsenal u21s have been significantly weakened this week by first-team call-ups, with the likes of Josh Nichols, Andre Harriman-Annous, Louie Copley, Max Dowman, and others in Spain with Mikel Arteta’s side.
Those left behind had to take on Boreham Wood at Meadow Park on Saturday, playing under new interim head coaches Max Porter and Ken Gillard.
Their task was made even more difficult as the hosts took the lead within seconds of kick-off, as Matt Rush tapped home from close range for 1-0.
Arsenal quickly fought back into the game, with Louis Zecevic-John working well in the buildup and Alex Marciniak finishing a chance well for 1-1 in the 11th minute.
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND: Max Porter, Coach of Arsenal XI, applauds prior to the Pre-Season Friendly match between Boreham Wood and Arsenal XI at Meadow Park on July 13, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
Arsenal made eight changes at the half-time interval, and took off the remaining three players on the hour mark, so it was an entirely new side that then took the lead in the 63rd minute.
U21 debutant Maalik Hashi took advantage of defensive confusion with a calm finish for 2-1, and Arsenal looked like being unlikely winners despite all their absentees.
But Boreham Wood hit back with a late goal from Junior Dixon for 2-2, and the friendly ended in a draw.
Arsenal u21 lineup vs Boreham Wood
Nygaard, Hamill, Clarke, Chapman, Washington, Julienne, Ferdinand, Marciniak, O’Neill, Sagoe Jr., Zecevic-John
Substitutes
Ranson (for Nygaard, 46), Ismail (for Hamill, 46), Onyekachukwu (for Champan, 46), Ogunnaike (for Washington, 46), Murisa (for Julienne, 46), Thompson (for Marciniak, 46), Bailey-Joseph (for O’Neill, 46), Oyetunde (for Zecevic-John, 46), King (for Clarke, 60), Hashi (for Ferdinand, 60), Phillips (for Sagoe Jr., 60)
Arsenal pre-season schedule
Saturday, July 12th: Boreham Wood 2-2 Arsenal u21s
Tuesday, July 15th, 19:00: St. Albans City vs Arsenal u21s
Saturday, July 26th, 14:00: Young Violets Austria Wien vs Arsenal u21s
Tuesday, July 29th, 19:00: Enfield Town vs Arsenal u21s
Saturday, August 2nd, 15:00: Chelmsford City vs Arsenal u21s
Saturday, August 9th, 16:00: AS Monaco B vs Arsenal u21s
Kick-offs in local time
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