Arsenal 4-1 Brentford: Lacazette nets hat-trick in friendly

Arsenal bid farewell to a large contingent of the first team over the recent international break as the final stoppage in the Premier League season draws to an end.

Four Englishman were called up for the Gunners with Gabriel Martinelli also earning his first senior cap, leaving Mikel Arteta with no much to work with in terms of his first team.

Given Arsenal won’t be in action again until Monday when they travel to Crystal Palace it shouldn’t be too much of an issue, with plenty of time for recovery.

As for those left back at London Colney, a behind-closed-doors friendly was arranged on Wednesday to give the remaining few a run out, as well as introducing some of the academy stars into the fold. There wasn’t much choice in that regard, since only Bernd Leno, Rob Holding, Nuno Tavares and Alexandre Lacazette were available from the first team.

Arsenal 4-1 Brentford: Alexandre Lacazette nets hat-trick in behind closed doors friendly at London Colney against the Bees’ B side

As noted on the club’s official website, Arteta’s side hosted Brentford’s ‘B’ side at London Colney, where they ran out 4-1 winners.

Lino Sousa, Jonathan Dinzeyi and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji received their first senior call-ups, while there were also starts for Miguel Azeez, Charlie Patino, Zak Swanson and Mazeed Ogungbo in a 4-2-3-1 system.

Arsenal lineup: Leno; Swanson, Holding, Ogungbo, Tavares; Azeez, Patino, Sagoe Jr, Ibrahim, Nketiah; Lacazette

Arsenal substitutes: Okonkwo, Sousa, Dinzeyi, Bandeira, Butler-Oyedeji, Ideho, Biereth

The Gunners ran out 4-1 winners on the day, with all the goals coming from senior players. Clearly storing up his goals for this particular match, Lacazette netted a hat-trick. He has yet to do so during his time for Arsenal in competitive action.

Rob Holding got the other goal for the home side after heading in from a corner.

Notable in the squad for that game was no Takehiro Tomiyasu or Aaron Ramsdale. The right-back is still recovering from niggling calf problems and didn’t link up with Japan for their World Cup qualifying matches, and his absence reveals there is still work to do on his recovery.

Ramsdale was also due to leave north London for international duty, only for a hip problem that ruled him out of the 1-0 win over Aston Villa to still keep him sidelined. It remains to be seen whether either will return for Monday.

Another player who wasn’t involved in the game and didn’t depart for international duty is Gabriel, who stayed at home as he welcomed the birth of his child.