Arsenal scouts attended Reading’s EFL Trophy fixture against Exeter City on Tuesday, keeping an eye on Caylan Vickers in particular.
Charlie Gordon reported for the Express on Tuesday that Arsenal would be sending scouts to watch Reading face Exeter City that night.
More specifically, the Arsenal onlookers were reportedly interested in keeping an eye on Caylan Vickers and Tyler Bindon, both just 18 years old and already playing a regular role for Reading’s first-team side.
Unfortunately, the scouts were left disappointed in Bindon’s case, as he wasn’t involved in the squad.
The EFL Trophy is often used by lower-league sides for rotation, and after 90 minutes at the weekend, the centre-back was left out on Tuesday.
But Vickers made a start, so the Arsenal scouts didn’t waste their trip, and the teenager put on a good display with a goal and an assist.
The game wasn’t exactly competitive, finishing 9-0 to Reading, and Vickers played his part in making that happen.
With Reading 2-0 up in the 56th minute, Vickers picked up the ball on the left-hand side, beating his man before cutting back for Paul Mukairu to finish.
Later in the match, Vickers scored Reading’s eighth with an individual effort, driving at his man from the touchline to the edge of the six-yard box before finishing at the near post.
You can watch the youngster’s goal involvements here or below, with his assist at the timestamp 0:35 and his goal at 1:48.