Arsenal win final behind-closed-doors friendly before pre-season tour
- Arsenal emerge victorious in private friendly against Leyton Orient
- Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe on target in 2-0 victory
- Gunners head to USA on Sunday for pre-season tour
By Tom Gott
Arsenal beat Leyton Orient 2-0 in a behind-closed doors friendly on Saturday as they brought the preparations for their pre-season tour to a close.
The Gunners are due to head off for the United States on Sunday, with a number of first-team players due to join up with the team later this month after their deep runs at Euro 2024 and Copa America.
Those who did not have international football to play this summer were given the chance to stretch the legs against League One outfit Leyton Orient on Saturday, with Arsenal one of a number of Premier League sides in friendly action.
Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the first half, before substitute Emile Smith Rowe added a second to fire a youthful Arsenal side to a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Alongside Jesus, the senior starters were Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira and Eddie Nketiah.
Mikel Arteta offered a glimpse into his preferred tactics for next season as he started 17-year-old defensive midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly - one of the club's most highly rated youngsters - at left-back.
Lewis-Skelly was involved in the opening goal, linking up well with Nelson and eventually seeing the ball fall to Jesus to slot home 20 minutes in.
Jesus set up Smith Rowe for the second shortly after the half-time break, with Arsenal comfortably cruising to victory from that point.
With some extra minutes in the legs, Arsenal head off for their pre-season tour of the United States, but are unlikely to be taking prospective new signing Riccardo Calafiori with them.
The Italian is closing on a move to the Emirates Stadium after club chiefs finally struck an agreement with Bologna for the 22-year-old's transfer. The switch is expected to cost Arsenal shy of £40m, with a sell-on clause included for last season's surprise Champions League qualifiers.
Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool await Arsenal over the next two weeks, before an Emirates Cup clash with Lyon back on home turf precedes the opening day clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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