Arsenal will begin their pre-season with a trip to Boreham Wood on Saturday, as the Post-Wenger era is all set to inaugurate. Meadow Park is not a ground that Gunners are accustomed to visit on regular basis but it is all set to go down in Arsenal’s history as Unai Emery will lead his Arsenal for the first time.
Arsenal are expected to travel with a strong squad involving the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Henrikh Mkhitaryan as well as Aaron Ramsey, but the young lads will certainly get their chances as assured by Unai Emery. They are expected to play an mixture of youth with experience. Emery has an advantage of not having majority of his important players participating in the World Cup held in Russia.
Supporters could watch new Arsenal recruits in Arsenal colors for the first-time this weekend. Bernd Leno, Sokratis Pasastathopoulos as well as Matteo Guendouzi are expected to make their Arsenal debut against Boreham Wood on Saturday.
Match Details: Boreham Wood vs Arsenal
Date: 24 July, 2018
Time: 15:00 BST
Location: Meadow Park
Both the clubs share a wonderful relationship and things get a little sweeter as the manager of Boreham Wood – Luke Garrard, once spent four years as a youth player for Arsenal and is still a passionate Gunner. Garrard admits his excitement as well as proud feeling to be first rival manager to shake Emery’s hand.
“I’m going to be immensely proud,” Garrard told football.london. “There is a great working relationship between the two clubs and that is something that the chairman has done over many years. That’s been because of hard work for 20 odd years.
“The luxury I have of being the manager now is I get to be the first manager to shake Unai Emery’s hand in an Arsenal fixture.
“I’m an Arsenal boy through and through, I love Arsenal. I hurt when everyone hurts and I’m joyous when everyone else is joyous. I follow the club, I support the club. It’s something that is dear to my heart.
“So to walk my team out and shake the hand of Unai Emery will be a proud moment. My wife and kids will be in the stand, my dad and my brother who both follow Arsenal immensely will be the stand, it just makes it all even more special.
“I’m a north London boy so you’re either a red or you support the other mob from the other side of town.
“But Saturday is not about me, it’s a moment for the club, for the community. Ticket sales are already through the roof. The community will come together at the weekend and it will be a massive moment for the club.”
Garrard added: “The players are excited, some of them also support Arsenal. We played them five years ago with the likes of Monreal, Gibbs and Ramsey and that was an experience then, but to potentially have Lacazette, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and Ramsey down here is amazing. I can’t wait.”
Boreham Wood are expecting an sell out game on Saturday with crowd around 3,500 are expected to be present.
