Arsenal 4-1 Millwall: Alex Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, Folarin Balogun and Calum Chambers on target

Arsenal 4-1 Millwall: Alex Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, Folarin Balogun and Calum Chambers all on target as hosts thrash Championship side in behind-closed-doors friendly… while new boy Albert Sambi Lokonga makes first outing for Mikel Arteta’s men

  • Arsenal hammered Championship Millwall in a friendly at their training ground
  • Calum Chambers put them in front after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the bar
  • Substitute Alexandre Lacazette headed in the second from a Chambers cross
  • Nicolas Pepe and Folarin Balogun completed the scoring for Mikel Arteta’s side 

Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, Folarin Balogun and Calum Chambers were all on target as Arsenal strolled to a 4-1 win over Millwall in a friendly.

There was also a debut for new signing Albert Sambi Lokonga, with the Belgium U21 midfielder getting his first taste of action in a Gunners’ shirt.

Chambers put Arsenal in front in the first half by tapping into an open goal after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had blasted against the bar with an overhead kick.

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang played a big role in the win without scoring

Aubameyang set up Calum Chambers' opener when he struck the bar with this overhead kick

Aubameyang set up Calum Chambers’ opener when he struck the bar with this overhead kick

Albert Sambi Lokonga made his first Arsenal appearance since joining from Anderlecht

Albert Sambi Lokonga made his first Arsenal appearance since joining from Anderlecht

MATCH FACTS

Arsenal (4-3-3): Okonkwo (Hein 46); Chambers, Holding, Mari (Cedric 60), Tierney (Tavares 60); Partey (Maitland-Niles 71), Elneny (Lokonga 46), Smith Rowe (Nelson 71); Pepe (Willian 71), Nketiah (Lacazette 46), Aubameyang (Balogun 71)

Millwall (4-4-2): Long; Romeo (McNamara 60), Ballard (Alex Mitchell 78), Cooper, M. Wallace, Malone (Burey 77), Thompson, Mitchell, Evans (Bennett 60), Bradshaw (Bodvarsson 60), Afobe

Boss Mikel Arteta brought on Lokonga, who joined Arsenal from Anderlecht earlier this month for £15million, while also introducing Lacazette, Nuno Tavares and Karl Hein.

Lacazette made a quick impact when he doubled Arsenal’s lead by heading home a Chambers cross.

Arsenal’s front three then combined for a classy third goal as Aubameyang beat a defender down the left wing and crossed towards Lacazette, who dummied and allowed Pepe to score instead.

Emile Smith Rowe started days after signing a long-term deal with the club and narrowly failed to find the net in the second half. 

Alexandre Lacazette made a quick impact when he doubled Arsenal's lead at London Colney

Alexandre Lacazette made a quick impact when he doubled Arsenal’s lead at London Colney

Nicolas Pepe scored Arsenal's third goal in the behind-closed-doors game at London Colney

Nicolas Pepe scored Arsenal’s third goal in the behind-closed-doors game at London Colney

Twenty-year-old striker Balogun got the fourth goal late on after coming off the bench, darting on to a pass from Willian to round the keeper and score. 

Millwall got a consolation goal when Alex Mitchell struck in the final few minutes following a corner.  

Arsenal’s next friendly is against Chelsea in the Mind Series on 1 August, when the Gunners will be able to welcome an almost capacity crowd at the Emirates Stadium for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic struck. 

Twenty-year-old striker Balogun got the fourth goal late on after coming off the bench

Twenty-year-old striker Balogun got the fourth goal late on after coming off the bench

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