Premier League outfit Arsenal returned to action with a bang on Saturday, with one member of Mikel Arteta’s squad having stolen the headlines.
The player in question? Eddie Nketiah.
Pre-season preparations are already well underway on the red half of north London, with those members of the Gunners’ ranks not afforded a call-up to international duty this month being put through their paces by boss Arteta.
And this afternoon, such endeavours were stepped up.
In the club’s first fixture since the close of the 2021/22 campaign, Arsenal welcomed League One outfit Ipswich Town to London Colney, for a behind-closed-doors friendly.
And the day’s hosts were not at all shy in making their superiority known, en route to an eventual 5-1 triumph.
As alluded to above, hitman Nketiah, fresh off committing his long-term future to the capital giants courtesy of a new contract, proved the star of the show, notching a hat-trick inside the opening 35 minutes of play.
Elsewhere, Albert Sambi Lokonga was also on target, before Folarin Balogun rounded out the scoring in the 2nd-half.
The likes of Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pepe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles too played key roles in a strong Arsenal XI over the course of the opening 45 minutes, with highlights of all five of the Gunners’ goals showcased below:
Eddie Nketiah’s first goal against Ipswich Town today, after just 25 seconds! #afc pic.twitter.com/ctkvSGiibt
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 2, 2022
Albert Sambi Lokonga’s goal against Ipswich Town today, finishing off a wonderful team move.
That Thomas Partey disguise pass. ? #afc pic.twitter.com/sgrsGaKvmJ
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 2, 2022
Eddie Nketiah’s second goal & Arsenal’s third against Ipswich Town today, tapping home after Nicolas Pepe found the overlapping Ainsley Maitland-Niles. #afc pic.twitter.com/nqrxfSZdz9
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 2, 2022
Eddie Nketiah’s hat-trick goal against Ipswich Town today. Thomas Partey threaded ball through to Albert Sambi Lokonga, who squared to Nketiah to put Arsenal 4-0 up in the first-half. #afc pic.twitter.com/SOPuT6CcsR
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 2, 2022
Folarin Balogun’s goal, Arsenal’s fifth & final one against Ipswich Town today.
Matt Smith’s pass >>> pic.twitter.com/QU1D8WCYNZ
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 2, 2022
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