Sone Aluko was on target but Town were beaten 5-1 by a stronger than expected Arsenal line-up in a behind closed doors friendly at their Colney training ground this afternoon.

Both teams fielded different sides in each half with the Gunners side featuring those who weren’t involved in June internationals and a more senior team than had been anticipated, certainly in the first half.

Town had Wes Burns back after being given a break following his involvement with Wales, but Elkan Baggott, who had been away with Indonesia, wasn’t in either XI.

George Edmundson, Kayden Jackson and Tyreece John-Jules, who recently signed on loan from the North Londoners, are not yet ready for involvement having ended last season with ankle, hamstring and quad injuries respectively.

Arsenal took an early lead through Eddie Nketiah, then midway through the first half Sambi Lokonga made it 2-0. Nketiah netted his second and then a third to complete a first-half hat-trick.

After the half-time wholesale changes, Folarin Balogun made it 5-0 before Aluko pulled one back for the Blues with a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Town now travel to Loughborough University for a week’s training with manager Kieran McKenna having said there will also be a team building aspect to the trip.

“We’ll do a few bits, that’s obviously the point of going away as well,” he said following last week’s 5-0 win at Needham Market.

“We have great conditions at Playford Road at the moment, especially with the Suffolk weather.

“We have everything we need from a football perspective there, but what you don’t get is the 24 hours a day in each others’ company, the meetings early in the morning or late at night and we’ll do some team bonding and things during the day, which I’m sure in the course of the week will help develop our spirit and our culture.

“We’ll do some different things off the pitch, so we’re looking forward to this week and it’ll be good to spend that extra bit of time together where you really can connect with people a little bit more.”

Arsenal first half: Leno, Bellerin, White, Mari, Cedric, Partey, Maitland-Niles, Lokonga, Pepe, Nketiah, Nelson.

Arsenal second half: Okonkwo, Walters, Kirk, Awe, Sousa, Smith, Oulad-M'Hand, Patino, Hutchinson, Balogun, Flores.

Town first half: Walton, Donacien, Ball, Ndaba, Vincent-Young, Harper, Morsy, Penney, Chaplin, Hughes (Armin), Ladapo.

Town second half: Hladky, Woolfenden, Burgess, Leigh, Burns, El Mizouni, Evans, Humphreys (Armin), Edwards, Aluko, Pigott.

Photos: TWTD/ITFC

grumpyoldman added 07:52 - Jul 3 blueboy1981 if we were playing teams of a similar stature within the game it could give us an indication but not against teams either far above or below our status it is no sign of where we are in the grand scheme of things.
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dieselmorris added 09:35 - Jul 3 don't panic mr manuring
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brassy added 13:03 - Jul 3 our no 24 looked out of his depth
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BeattiesBackPocket added 13:04 - Jul 3 We HAVE to play bigger teams at the start of pre season as these are the sides that show up a team frailties and where we need to improve. We've spent last few years playing the best team week before season starts which gives us absolutely no time on the training ground to improve any weaknesses. We have West Ham in a weeks time as well so another big test however anyone who knows football won't be too bothered about early pre season results win or lose it's about fitness as well. Those who are moaning already about a weakened arsenal side Really? Leno, Bellerin, Ben White, Cedric, Partey, Pepe, Nketiah, Maitland-Niles?? Pepe was 72 million on his own? Not to mention we both out out two MIXED sides out each half as well and just Remember what league we are in before coming out with such dross

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BeattiesBackPocket added 13:05 - Jul 3 Oh and John Lyalls championship winning season I don't think we won a pre season game so again let's wait till the season starts before moaning shall we
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Robert_Garrett added 13:08 - Jul 3 Second half at 1-1 can be seen as a success and secondly we didnt lose any points in the EFL so who cares. Its nice to see our players again in the fresh air after the covid disappointments. A hearty welcome into our midst to the newbies - hope their inaugeral singing was good?
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blueboy1981 added 15:07 - Jul 4 Since when has ‘moaning' been - having an ‘opinion' ??? Not everything has an obligation to be seen through ‘blue tinted' Glasses. A 5-1 defeat against anyone is just that - Reality and Fact - if it's not an ‘indication of anything', then why bother, and just roll over.
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