The Wood return to Meadow Park on Thursday, July 27 for their high-profile fixture against an Arsenal XI (7.30pm). Here’s our preview……..
Match Details
It’s a pay-on-the-gate game and both Arsenal and Boreham Wood season tickets holders will be given half-priced entry. 2017/18 season tickets will be required as proof on the turnstile.
Entrance fees for the game are as follows: Adults £14; OAPS £12, under 16’s £8 and under 12’s £4.
The match will be the official opening of the the club’s Premier League standard, million pound Desso pitch and surrounding features.
The cutting of the ribbon is expected to be done by Mr Arsene Wenger and Mr Ivan Gazidis, who we hope to be present on Thursday to enjoy a great evening of football.
The famous FA Cup trophy will also be on display at Meadow Park in celebration of the two-club’s recent ten-year contract extension.
There are a number of community events planned on the day, including a free football coaching sessions for boys and girls aged from five-to-twelve years between 5.30pm and 6.30pm. All participants will be given free admission into the game. Full details for this, can be found below:
https://tinyurl.com/y9msxrer
The gates will open at 6:15pm and the club bar will be open to the general public and both sets of supporters from 4pm.
The nearest public car park is stationed in Brook Road and adjacent to stadium.
Team News
There are no fresh injury concerns going into the fixture.
Dean Wells was left out of the match against Hemel Hempstead on Monday, but remains hopefully of making his Wood debut on Thursday.
Luke Garrard has faced two very different challenges in the past week, against League Two side Luton Town in the division above and National League South side Hemel of the division below.
The 31-year-old will look to use the lessons learnt from those games, as well as the Arsenal match, to determine his starting XI for the 2017/18 season,
Form Guide
The Wood returned to their best against Hemel Hempstead with a 2-4 win, following the loss to League Two Luton Town.
Angelo Balanta, Kane Smith, Keiran Murtagh and Bradley Ash all got on the scoresheet against Hemel and will be looking to take that confidence into Thursday.
Boreham Wood’s new Premier League standard DESSO pitch will undoubtedly play a part in the quality of the fixture, with Garrard’s men itching to get back out onto their new surface.
Managed by former Arsenal defender Steve Gatting, Arsenal are expected to bring a strong XI with them when they visit Meadow Park.
From the Dugout – Luke Garrard
“I am very excited, obviously they are going to bring a competitive under 23s side and we are used to that year-on-year with the Arsenal XI coming here.
“It is going to be a special occasion with it being the official opening of the new pitch, so I am very, very excited.
“It will be massive to have Arsene Wenger here and the FA Cup is coming as well, so it is going to be a fantastic chance for us to put on a showcase for them.
“You look around at the facilities that we have got here now and the new pitch, the dugouts and hopefully we can give them a competitive game.
“It is going to be very competitive, I can see that they are going to try and dominate the ball. I can see it being very much like the Luton Town game.
“They are full of internationals, so it is going to be quick, it is going to be fast when it comes to possession, I think that it is going to be an amazing work out for the boys.”
Garrard also appeared on Local Radio Stadion Vibe FM yesterday where he spoke with Lee Partridge about both the Arsenal fixture and pre-season so far, you can listen to this below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcOrakcgr80
