With the competitive action resuming in just over two weeks’ time, Mikel Arteta used nearly all of his travelling squad in this friendly, with the first-team regulars storming to a 3-0 half-time lead, before a host of academy players saw out the win.
Midway through the second half Arteta replaced the rest of the outfield players, making nine subs at once.
It was now basically an under-21 side, including schoolboys Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
The lively Nigerian prodigy Nwaneri fired wide before Catalin Cirjan went even closer, hitting the post before another Nigerian blood Nathan Butler-Oyedeji saw his follow up snuffed out.
The game then went into penalty with the gunners winning 2-1.
Dare Ogun