Arsenal opened their pre-season schedule with a convincing 3-0 behind-closed-doors friendly victory over MK Dons at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
The result gave manager Mikel Arteta a positive early platform to work from, even as many of his senior players remain on post-World Cup holiday.
New signing Christos Tzolis was handed an unofficial debut, having joined the Gunners from Club Brugge in a deal worth £34million earlier this summer.
The Greek international lined up on the left of a front three alongside Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson, with Riccardo Calafiori also involved from the start.
Nelson opened the scoring after just ten minutes, finding space inside the penalty area and cooly beating Craig MacGillivray in the MK Dons goal.
Crucially, it was Tzolis who provided the assist for the opener, continuing the impressive form he showed at Club Brugge, where he registered 29 assists last season.
The early signs suggest the Greek winger is already developing a productive relationship with Riccardo Calafiori down Arsenal’s left-hand side.
Ethan Nwaneri then doubled the lead just before half-time with the kind of finish that has become familiar to Arsenal supporters, curling an effort beyond the keeper from just outside the box.
Arteta used the interval to introduce eight academy players, with new Academy Director Pascal De Maesschalck overseeing the development of those youngsters.
Illan Meslier entered the action in the 59th minute alongside exciting left-sided defender Marcel Washington, who was among the further substitutions made late in the game.
Academy prospect Ceadach O’Neill wrapped up a polished team performance, running through on goal and finessing a composed finish to complete the 3-0 scoreline.
The result was a bright and encouraging start to the pre-season schedule, with a sterner test arriving on August 1 when Arsenal face Girona in Spain.
That fixture should see the squad strengthened significantly, as more senior players return from their summer breaks following the conclusion of the World Cup.
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