5 talking points as Arsenal thrash Ipswich and Eddie Nketiah bags hat-trick

Arsenal started their pre-season campaign in style on Saturday, as they thrashed Ipswich Town 5-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at London Colney.

Mikel Arteta is without a host of first-team regulars, who are enjoying an extended break following their recent international exploits. However, the Spaniard was still able to field a strong side against the League One outfit, with names such as Eddie Nketiah, Ben White and Thomas Partey all featuring.

Nketiah netted inside the opening 30 seconds before teeing up Albert Sambi Lokonga to double the Gunners lead. Nketiah went on to bag a first-half hat-trick, before Folarin Balogun completed the route after the break. Sone Aluko netted a consolation for Ipswich. Here, Mirror Football talks a look at five talking points from Arsenal's big pre-season win...

With Gabriel Jesus' arrival from Manchester City expected to be officially confirmed any day now, Nketiah picked the perfect time to bag a three-goal haul.

While there has been understandable excitement at the prospect of Jesus leading the line for the Gunners next term, Nketiah will have aspirations of his own to retain the first-team shirt that he made his own in the final weeks of the season.

Admittedly, keeping himself ahead of somebody of Jesus' ilk is a big ask, but Nketiah finished the season strongly and will back himself to carry his goalscoring form into the new Premier League campaign. The 23-year-old snubbed a move elsewhere to continue his journey at Arsenal - and it's highly unlikely that he's signed up to play a peripheral role.

With a host of players still absent owing to their recent international exploits, Arteta was handed the opportunity to give minutes to a few players who found first-team