Alexandre Lacazette scored a hattrick as Arsenal beat Brentford B in a behind closed doors friendly at London Colney this afternoon. Rob Holding also scored for the Gunners as they were able to secure a resounding 4-1 victory, with Julian Jeanvier netting the Bees' only goal of the game.
Mikel Arteta was without several of his first team players who are due to return soon after representing their countries during the international break, meaning the side was largely composed of members of Kevin Betsy's under-23s squad. Zak Swanson, Mazeed Ogungbo, Miguel Azeez, Charles Sagoe Jr. all started, while Bradley Ibrahim celebrated signing his first professional contract by making the XI and Charlie Patino made his first start since January.
January signing Lino Souza was on the bench while fellow academy players Jonathan Dinzeyi, Mauro Bandeira, Nathan Butler Oyedeji, Joel Ideho and Mika Biereth joined him among the subs.
First team players Bernd Leno and Eddie Nketiah took part, while left back Nuno Tavares was involved despite withdrawing from the Portugal under-21 squad due to injury.
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Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu are not thought to have been involved as they look to recover from respective hip and calf injuries that kept them out of action before the international break. Bukayo Saka was also involved as he continues his recovery from a positive test for COVID-19 that saw him miss England's friendlies against Swizterland and Ivory Coast.
The game begin brightly for Arsenal who forced an early save from an Nketiah shot before Lacazette's deflected effort put them in front just after the 20 minute mark.
The Gunners then doubled their lead shortly after the break as Lacazette turned home the rebound from an Nketiah shot before complete his hattrick with a long range effort 10 minutes later. Holding then nodded in Arsenal's fourth from a corner just after the hour mark.
Brentford did get a consolation goal not long after as Jeanvier, who is making his way back from a long term knee injury, headed just shy of twenty minutes from time.
This is not the first time Arsenal have played behind closed doors friendlies against their London neighbours. Earlier in the season they claimed a 4-0 victory over Thomas Frank's side with goals coming from Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe while Cedric Soares netted a brace.
Arsenal: Leno, Swanson, Holding, Ogungbo, Tavares, Azeez, Patino, Sagoe JR, Ibrahim, Nketiah, Lacazette
Subs: Okonkwo, Sousa, Dizeyi, Bandeira, Butler-Oyedeji, Biereth, Ideho
Brentford B: Rees (Winterbottom, 45), Russell (Gilbert, 45), Adedokun (Hercules, 79) Hockenhull (Jeanvier, 45), Jones, Jefferies, Young-Coombes (Mpongo, 57) Trevitt (Sotona, 45) Gordon (Trialist, 79) Oksanen, Crama
