Arsenal kicked off their pre-season tour by opening Boreham Wood FC’s new stand this weekend.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and Ivan Gazides opened the new West Stand on Saturday, when Boreham Wood FC played a pre-season friendly against the FA Cup winning-side.

Hundreds of Arsenal and Boreham Wood fans of all ages were there to cheer on their teams and watch the match, which Arsenal won 2-0.

Mr Wenger said: “It was a great honour to open Boreham Wood FC’s new west stand.

"It is an excellent facility which will allow the club to continue to develop. It will also be of great benefit to our ladies and academy sides, who play their home games at Meadow Park. I am very pleased that we were able to come together with Boreham Wood FC, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and other funders to make this project a reality.”

The £550,000 stand runs the full length of the Meadow Park pitch, replacing the old asbestos-filled structure and creating 1,420 seats.

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund donated a grant of £241,000, while other sponsors for the club, in Broughinge Road, included Hertsmere Borough Council, club chairman Danny Hunter and Arsenal FC.

Mr Hunter said: “On behalf of our club I must thank Arsène Wenger for opening our new west stand. It truly was a fitting way to mark the end of a project which has given Boreham Wood FC a first-class new facility.

"Special mentions must also go to the local council, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, the Football Conference League, the Women's Super League and Arsenal FC for turning a dream into reality.”

Boreham Wood Football Club’s main partnership deal with Barnet and Southgate College has been extended by a further three years, until July 2017.

Barnet and Southgate Principal David Byrne said: “It was a college highlight to be able to launch the renewed partnership this Saturday with Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger and Ivan Gazides. It was great to see the college’s name on the front of the first team’s shirts and on the new west stand at the Boreham Wood football ground.”

You can see the Borehamwood Times' match report here.