Arsenal played out a comfortable 2-0 victory over League One team Leyton Orient in their first pre-season friendly as Mikel Arteta named a vastly expensive starting side.
By RYAN WALKER, SPORTS REPORTER
Published: 15:04 EDT, 20 July 2024 | Updated: 17:33 EDT, 20 July 2024
Mikel Arteta named a strong starting side worth almost £230m for Arsenal's behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly against Leyton Orient.
A comfortable 2-0 win over the League One opposition followed with several Gunners first-team stars impressing as they kick-started their preparations ahead of flying out to the United States.
Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe both scored in the friendly clash at Arsenal's Sobha Realty Training Centre as they started in a side packed with expensive signings.
Defender Jurrien Timber and Ben White were amongst the expensive recruits that lined up against a Preston side that costs just a fraction of Arsenal's starting XI.
A midfield trio of Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira and captain Martin Odegaard were deployed in front of them while Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah supported Jesus in attack.
Martin Odegaard started Arsenal's first pre-season friendly ahead of the new season
Ben White (left) started the match against Leyton Orient in defence while Fabio Vieira (right) was named in midfield
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is keen to raise the level at Arsenal ahead of next season
The prominent featuring of multiple players that fell short in the Premier League title race against Manchester City last season means Arsenal's team for Saturday's encounter totalled over £200m in transfer fees.
That figure would expectedly push over £250m given the current valuation of Arsenal's stars, with the likes of Odegaard and White improving since moving to the Emirates.
Gabriel Jesus got on the scoresheet as Arsenal secured a comfortable 2-0 victory in the behind-closed-doors friendly
Emile Smith Rowe also scored ahead of Arsenal's upcoming trip to the United States
Changes were made at half-time with more of Arsenal's academy players being brought into the fray as Arteta sought to give a mix of experience and youth valuable minutes.
The Gunners boss is attempting to raise the level at the club following a consecutive season failure to win the Premier League.
Speaking at the end of last season, Arteta said: 'The first one and most important is how we are going to get these players to a different level, that’s my first job.
'After that, visualising that we still don’t have enough to do that for sure we’re going to do everything we can to fill those gaps.'