EDDIE NKETIAH celebrated his new contract with a hat-trick in the first half of Arsenal’s pre-season friendly win over Ipswich.
The Gunners rioted at London Colney on Saturday, when Mikel Arteta’s side won 5-1 against the League One outfit.
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Just two weeks after signing a long-term deal with the Emirates, Nketiah showed why Arsenal were so desperate to tie him down.
And he proved why he was awarded the club’s iconic number 14 when he netted three goals and an assist in 35 minutes.
Nketiah’s opener came after 30 seconds, before he put Albert Sambi Lokonga at 2-0.
The 23-year-old then completed his treble with two signature poaching finishes.
A host of star names were named in Arteta’s lineup on the club’s training ground, including returning Hector Bellerin, Pablo Mari, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reiss Nelson.
The quartet was loaned out to Real Betis, Udinese, Roma and Feyenoord respectively last season.
Meanwhile, Thomas Partey was included in the squad, which was a huge boost for Arteta after a thigh injury knocked him out at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Reserve goalkeeper Bernd Leno also started, along with Ben White, Cedric Soares and Nicolas Pepe.
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With Arsenal leading 4-0, Arteta decided to set up a completely different line-up for the second half, which gave the club’s youth players a chance to shine.
And centre-forward Folarin Balogun, who has just returned from his Middlesbrough loan spell, scored to make his side five for good.
The visitors then withdrew a consolation goal via Sone Aluko, but it was too little too late.
It was the perfect achievement for Arteta with Arsenal to fly to Germany on Monday for their friendly away match at FC Nuremberg on 8 July.