Despite much speculation, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger did not turn up to watch the match. However, Crystal Palace manager, Neil Warnock, and former Brighton & Hove Albion boss, Dean Wilkins, were among those in a crowd of 727.

They were thoroughly entertained throughout the evening by an Arsenal team, whose passing, pace, movement and clinical finishing was a joy to watch.

Spanish midfielder Fran Merida, who Arsenal signed from Barcelona in 2006, and who spent part of last season on loan at Real Sociedad, bossed the game in the first half, and set up two of their four goals in the opening period.

His outstanding pass over the top of Worthing's defence allowed Henri Lansbury to open the scoring on 10 minutes.

Six minutes later, Rebels equalised. Chris O'Flaherty's corner drifted to the back post and Paul Kennett headed goalwards. Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny and midfielder Mark Randall left it to each other to clear, neither did, and the ball dropped in.

Within two minutes, Jay Simpson, who was the League One player of the year while on loan to Millwall last season, raced on to Kyle Bartley's long ball from defence and lobbed Rebels keeper Alan Mansfield to make it 2-1.

Lansbury got his second, from Rui Fonte's pass, on 26 minutes, and Arsenal then went 4-1 up on 34 minutes. Mansfield, who had an outstanding game, parried Simpson's effort but Kieran Gibbs tapped home.

Worthing changed around most of their team at half-time and there was a welcome return to action for Richard Hudson, who captained the side. He had suffered a serious ankle injury this time last season.

Arsenal got the only goal of the second half on 62 minutes when Mansfield blocked Jay Thomas' powerful 25-yarder but Paul Rodgers notched the rebound.

Lancing lad Rhys Murphy came on in the second half for Arsenal, and twice went close to scoring. He was denied by Mansfield on 57 minutes, and smacked a left-footed effort against a post with six minutes left.

WORTHING (first half): Mansfield; Pook, Ballard, Alexander, Gregory; Skinner, Akehurst, Kennett, O'Flaherty; Andrews, Lopes.

Second half: Mansfield; Benn, Ballard, Axten, Gregory; Hudson, Kirkwood, Pulling, Demetriou; Brotherton, Elliott. Subs: Akehurst (Ballard 77), Bonetti (Mansfield 90).

ARSENAL: Szczesny; Ogogo, Hoyte, Bartley, Gibbs; Wilshere, Randall, Merida, Lansbury; Fonte, Simpson. Subs: Thomas (Bartley 45), Shea, Dunne, Rodgers, Steer, Murphy, Watt (Szczesny, Gibbs, Randall, Merida, Simpson, Fonte 52).

Click here for match reaction.

Click here for picture gallery from the match.

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