Unai Emery made the perfect start as Arsenal manager, defeating Boreham Wood 8-0, in his very first match in charge.
A strong Gunners eleven took to the field, featuring the likes of Petr Cech, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexander Lacazette, amongst a number of other star names.
It was Aubameyang who got the Emery era off the mark, with a hattrick in the first 17 minutes.
Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Henrik Mkhitaryan would also get themselves onto the scoresheet, as Emery left Meadow Park with plenty to think about.
The Wood lined up in their usual 3-5-2 formation, with Connor Smith, Keiran Murtagh and Mark Ricketts in the centre and Angelo Balanta sitting behind Morgan Ferrier.
Aubameyang’sfirst was a stunning strike, as he whipped the ball into the top right corner, from 20-yards.
His second began with intricate attacking play and it ended with the forward getting onto the end of AinsleyMaitland-Niles’ cross
Arsenal’s record signing would momentarily allow someone else as a chance, as Nelson pinched the ball inside of his own half and sprinted forward. However, David Stephens showed superb pace to track back and block off the winger.
Shortly after, Nelson was brought down in the penalty area and The Gunners were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Aubameyang, who fired home to complete his hattrick.
Having netted three inside 20 minutes, the Gunners seemed to slow down a tad, as Boreham Wood showed attacking impetuous.
Manny Parry had their first real chance of the match, but could only head into the hands of Cech.
Luke Garrard’s side would enjoy another chance shortly after, but Smith, Ricketts and Tom Champion all saw their efforts blocked and saved by a mixture of Cech and his star-studded backline.
A mazy solo run from Ferrier took him around the outside of the Gunners back-four, who were struggling to deal with his power and pace. However, his cross was knocked over the head of Balanta, by Konstantinos Mavropanos.
The former Arsenal youth product would then battle the ball off Mavropanos and drive forward, but the Gunners recovered to clear.
The Gunners were back on top not long after as Nelson netted a fourth. Hector Bellerin fed Lacazette and the Frenchman beautifully looped it back for Nelson to chest down and volley home.
Lacazette then turned goalscorer to make it five at half-time. The forward raced away from the Wood defence on the counter attack and slid it low into the bottom corner.
Arsenal changed their entire eleven at the break and showed no signs of letting up as Nketiah flicked a sixth over the Wood’s trialist goalkeeper.
Bradley Ash done well on the by-line to fight the ball from the feet of Rob Holding, but couldn’t quite keep it in play.
Another stunning strike from the Gunners made it seven, when Reine-Adelaide took a touch and sent the ball crashing into the bottom corner of the net, from 20-yards.
Emery’s side would make it eight on 80 minutes, as Mkhitaryan’s darting run was met by Aaron Ramsey’s perfectly timed through ball – via a backheel from Nketiah.
The Wood: Trialist One, Woodards, Ilesanmi, Ricketts, Parry, Stephens, Smith, Champion, Ferrier, Murtagh, Balanta
Arsenal first half: Cech, Bellerin, Sokratis, Mavropanos, Osei-Tutu, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Arsenal second half: Martinez, Jenkinson, Holding, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Chambers, Ramsey, Mkhitaryan, Reine-Adelaide, Lucas, Nketiah
