WHAT HAPPENED
The Unai Emery era got off to an encouraging start as we sealed a comprehensive victory against National League side Boreham Wood .
There was genuine excitement and intrigue as our new head coach took charge of his first game, and he couldn't have asked for a better opening at a sun-drenched Meadow Park.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the opener with a stunning curling effort into the top corner, before stooping to head in a second just two minutes later after a slaloming run from Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
The Gabon international completed his hat-trick from the spot after Reiss Nelson was hauled down in the area, with the young forward adding a fourth himself with a superb volley into the top corner.
Maitland-Niles and Emile Smith Rowe were full of positivity, and the latter was involved in our fifth - winning the ball in defence before Aubameyang released Alexandre Lacazette to open his account.
It was all change for the second half, with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Henrikh Mkhitaryan thrown into the fray, but it was youngster Eddie Nketiah who poked home from close range to extend our lead.
Jeff Reine-Adelaide, back at the club after a loan spell back in France with Angers, sent a fizzing strike into the bottom corner to make it seven.
Mkhitaryan wrapped things up with a fine finish to complete a satisfactory afternoon for Emery and his team, and while there may be bigger challenges to come over pre-season, there was plenty here to cheer our new head coach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
WHAT’S NEXT
We continue our pre-season preparations at London Colney before heading to Singapore on tour next weekend.
We will face Atletico Madrid first up at the Singapore National Stadium on July 26, before taking on Paris Saint-Germain two days later.
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