Arsenal U21 kick-off pre-season at Boreham Wood - find out how they fared

Boreham Wood's Meadow Park hosted Arsenal U21s opening pre-season clash 

Arsenal’s U21 side kicked off their pre-season with a hard-fought 2-2 draw with National League outfit Boreham Wood on a sweltering afternoon in Hertfordshire.

Amongst the Arsenal starting eleven was Marcell Washington who arrived at Arsenal towards the end of last season on loan from Chelsea.

Following a successful trial period, he was offered a professional contract which was announced on Saturday morning. He certainly impressed in the afternoon, and will be one to keep an eye on over the coming years. He is also the son of former Chelsea full-back, Ryan Bertrand who was part of the Chelsea side who won the Champions League in 2012.

The game got off to a rough start as Matt Rush put the hosts ahead with barely a minute on the clock. Boreham Wood dominated the first ten minutes, as fears grew the young guns would struggle to compete with the physicality of a team of fully grown men.

However any fears were eased as the youthful visitors quickly gained a foothold of proceedings, drawing level on 11 minutes. Alex Marciniak received the ball on the half turn in midfield and fed Sagoe Jr. The ball found itself back at the feet of Marciniak who took a touch inside and curled home into the ‘keeper’s bottom left. It was a hugely impressive goal that was both scored and instigated by Marciniak.

The game became a constant battle for supremacy with neither side fully asserting themselves over the other whilst both giving a good account of themselves.

Both sides went close on a couple of occasions before the break, with Theo Julienne particularly impressing. But it remained level at the break - a fair reflection of how the first half went for both sides.

Arsenal took the lead midway through the second half through Maalik Hashi following a defensive mix up. It looked as though the Young Gunners would hold on for the win but only six minutes from time Junior Dixon equalised for the Wood with a wonderful left footed strike from the right side of the box that was Sakaesque.

A draw was a fair result, and it marked a decent start to preseason for Arsenal’s young Guns with Marciniak, Washington and Julienne being three youngsters to keep an eye on. Washington in particular impressed, reminding of Myles Lewis-Skelly.  

This was a particularly youthful Arsenal side so it should be said that they did very well to hold their own physically for 90 minutes against a team of men who are used to playing 50 plus games a season, two or three times a week.

Boreham Wood are a high calibre side, having gained promotion back to the National League last season, with many Arsenal supporters in the crowd wishing them the very best of luck for their forthcoming 2024-25 campaign.