The Wood continue their pre-season campaign this Saturday, July 14 (3pm), when we welcome the Arsenal first team to Meadow Park. Here’s our preview…
Match Details
Extremely limited tickets are still available for the match against Unai Emery’s Arsenal and we will be open until 10pm tomorrow for both purchases and collections. Click HERE for more info.
Tickets for the East, West and South Stand (the bowling green end) have completely sold out, as supporters flock to see Emery’s first ever match in the dugout, as Arsenal Manager.
Tickets for the North Stand (usually the home end) have been selling incredibly fast all day and we have just a very few remaining.
The match will not be segregated, and the nearest public car park is stationed in Brook Road and adjacent to stadium.
Team News
The Wood have now had two pre-season fixtures so far and have come away unscathed.
With new signings Connor Smith, Brad Ash, Manny Parry, Femi Ilesanmi and Jamal Fyfield all getting plenty of minutes under their belts, Luke Garrard will be pleased with how his team is shaping up.
Form Guide
The Wood have won one and lost one of their pre-season fixtures so far. A tough start to pre-season against Dean Smith’s Brentford proved an excellent opening tie.
The Championship promotion hopefuls were at full-strength and Garrard’s side will feel pleased with their performances against some of the Championship’s best players.
Having taken the lead through a Morgan Ferrier penalty, Brentford eventually battled back and showed their Championship pedigree, to earn a 1-2 win.
This was followed up by the very different test of Hitchin Town and Ferrier once again opened the scoring from the spot. His goal would prove the deciding factor in a 0-1 victory.
The challenge of one of Europe’s best teams though will prove an entirely different entity all together and will be a spectacle not to be missed.
Unai Emery became Arsenal’s first new manager in over 21-years when he took over from Arsene Wenger in May.
With the match against Boreham Wood being his first in charge at Arsenal, the Gunners will take to Meadow Park as somewhat of an unknown quality.
The players who have not been to the World Cup are all likely to featuring and will be hoping to show their new manager that they have what it takes to play in his system.
One to Watch – Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
All of them?!
With the likes of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mikhtaryan, Aaron Ramsey, Alexander Lacazette, Sokratis and Hector Bellerin all potentially involved, it becomes incredibly difficult to pinpoint one-star player.
However, Aubameyang will be the name on everyone’s lips, having hit the ground running since arriving at the Gunners in January, from Borussia Dortmund for a club-record transfer fee.
He has scored almost a goal a game since signing and is known as one of Europe’s deadliest strikers.
The forward has an abundance of pace on the ball and is a potent finisher. He will not only be a thorn in the side of the Wood defence, but Gunners’ fan will hope that he can fire them to a title charge this season.
From the Dugout – Luke Garrard
“I think that this is all due to the work of the Chairman and what he has done over the years and the relationship that he has with them at board level.
“To have Unai Emery here for his first fixture and for us to be the club that host that is a very proud moment for this football club, for me, and for this community.
“To have the luxury of working alongside Unai Emery on Saturday, I am proud. But for me, it is about the players, the community, and the club, and it is a massive occasion for everyone involved.
“Arsenal coming in with their internationals puts you on the map and yeah it is exciting. The lads will be playing against some of their idols on Saturday and yeah, I will be watching in awe.
“I like to watch them when they are playing the West Hams, Man Citys and Man Uniteds of the world, so the fact that they are going to be playing against my team on Saturday is very pleasing.”
