Eddie Nketiah kicked off Arsenal's pre-season campaign with a 35-minute hat-trick in a 5-1 victory against Ipswich Town.
The friendly was held behind closed doors at London Colney, this afternoon.
The Gunners lined up versus Ipswich in their first outing of the 2022/23 pre-season, taking on the Sky Bet League One side after their first week back on the training ground.
The game was Nketiah’s first appearance since signing a new five-year-deal and being given the infamous number 14 shirt.
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The Englishman marked the occasion with a goal as early as the first minute of the game.
Nketiah followed up his goal-scoring habits with an assist for Sambi Lokonga, starting the preparations for his second season at the club in style.
The Hale End academy graduate coupled the opener with a second soon after before landing a first-half hat-trick to sink the Tractor Boys.
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Keen to impress, Folarin Balogun joined Nketiah and Lokonga on the scoresheet in the second half as the North Londoners ran out 5-1 winners against the East Anglians.
In Mikel Arteta’s first chance to re-assess the squad in a matchday environment, the Spaniard called on a strong XI.
This included the likes of Ben White and the recently recovered Thomas Partey.
The Arsenal boss also welcomed Héctor Bellerín, Pablo Mari and Reiss Nelson back into the fold for the one-off event at London Colney, following loan spells away from the Emirates Stadium.
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As a potent-looking Arsenal raced to an early lead.
It took Nketiah and his team-mates just 35 minutes to find themselves 4-0 up, with three of those belonging to the poacher.
Balogun showed his worth with goal number five on a fruitful day for the Gunners, blemished only by a late consolation goal from Ipswich’s Sone Aluko.
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The Premier League giants now head for Germany with a match-up against Bundesliga 2. side FC Nürnberg pencilled in for Friday 8th July.
Arsenal then move on from South-East Germany to their anticipated tour of the USA.
Games against Everton, Orlando City and London rivals Chelsea await them in the states.
Arteta’s men will then centre their focus on the official Premier League season opener, away to Crystal Palace on Friday 5th August.
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Ipswich Town
Patrick Ribeiro