Emile Smith Rowe and Rob Holding both featured for the Arsenal u23s on Monday, as they continued their respective injury comebacks, whilst Folarin Balogun scored a hat-trick in the 3-1 win.

Arsenal u23s travelled to Blackburn for their first PL2 game of the season on Monday night, with a couple of positive additions to the usual squad.

Firstly, Rob Holding started his second game for the side, having also featured in a pre-season match against Watford. Emile Smith Rowe joined him for his first appearance since last season, and first start since last 2018.

Despite Arsenal putting out a strong team, Blackburn actually took the lead early on through Mols. The in-form Folarin Balogun brought the away side level though, winning a penalty which he converted via a rebound.

Smith Rowe came off at half-time in a planned substitution, before Holding came off just after the hour mark. Arsenal confirmed there was no injury to Holding, it was just another planned change.

The pair had encouraging appearances, with Smith Rowe having a couple of positive passing moves and chances in the first half, whilst Holding made a few important challenges.

It was Balogun who popped up again to steal the headlines though, winning and converting another penalty to give Arsenal the lead, before scoring a third penalty in injury time for 3-1.

There’s no doubt he’ll be getting first-team chances before long at the rate he’s developing. In the meantime, the u23s will get the benefit of his goals just as the u18s did last season.

Starting lineup: Hillson, Swanson, Holding, Clarke, Bola, Olayinka, Burton (c), Smith-Rowe, Tormey, Balogun, Coyle

Bench: Smith, Olowu, Omole, McEneff, John-Jules