Arsenal under-21s are thrashed 5-2 by Reading in the EFL Trophy in the basement of League One despite playing Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson as overage players – as the Portuguese midfielder misses a penalty just days after being sent off for the senior team
- Arsenal Under 21s traveled to Reading in the group stages of the EFL Trophy
- First-team stars Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson played for a young Gunners side
- It’s a title race between three teams… Toney could lead Arsenal to victory: It all starts
Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson both played for Arsenal’s Under 21 team in their EFL Trophy match against Reading but could not prevent the Gunners suffering a 5-2 defeat.
The two teams faced off in their final group match of the competition, which will see all League One and League Two teams competing, along with 16 category one Under 21 teams from Premier League and Championship clubs.
Three Football League teams will be drawn with one of the youth teams in a round-robin format that has been regionalised, with Arsenal and Reading having already qualified for the southern leg knockout stages ahead of Tuesday’s match.
The Royals – who are managed by former Southampton boss Ruben Selles – are enduring a dismal campaign and currently sit bottom of League One with just seven points, amid significant financial problems that have seen them deducted a further four points.
Nelson and Vieira – who were sent off for violent conduct during Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Burnley last weekend – were in a strong-looking starting line-up for the Gunners for the match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, with competition rules stating that the under-21 teams may select two players over the age.
Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson both played in Arsenal Under 21’s 5-2 defeat to Reading
Vieira played against Burnley just three days after being sent off for the senior side
However, Arsenal went down 2-0 early on with goals from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Caylon Vickers, before Vieira pulled one back with a coolly taken penalty.
It was the second penalty of the season that the former Porto player scored after also scoring from twelve yards against Sheffield United last month.
20-year-old Ehibhatiomhan, who came through Reading’s youth academy, added a third for his side before Nelson provided a sensational assist for young striker Khayon Edwards.
Ehibhatiomhan failed to convert the chance for a hat-trick as he missed his own penalty on the hour mark, before setting up Harvey Knibbs to make it 4-2 to the Royals.
Vieira had the chance to pull another goal back from the penalty spot in what was a hugely dramatic encounter, but former Manchester United youngster Joel Pereira pulled off a fine save.
17-year-old Gunners midfielder Ayden Heaven was then sent off, while Sam Smith made it 5-2 for Reading in stoppage time.
Nelson got some much-needed minutes and provided an excellent assist for Khayon Edwards’ goal
Vieira scored a penalty in the first half, before missing a second penalty late in the match
Arsenal Academy director Per Mertesacker and assistant boss Albert Stuivenberg were present at the clash in Berkshire, where they were in charge of the next generation of talent.
The hosts ultimately topped the group with three wins from three, while Arsenal finished second with five points.
During their campaign they beat Exeter 5-0, while also drawing 2-2 with Swindon – although they won the subsequent penalty shootout for an extra point – in what is a bizarre quirk of the competition when the matches are level at full-time . .
The match caps a tumultuous few days for Vieira, but the 23-year-old has shown his undoubted talent on occasions so far this season as he battles with Kai Havertz for a spot on the left of Arsenal’s third midfield.
