Arsenal came out on the wrong side of an action-packed EFL Trophy game against Reading on Tuesday, with Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson featuring.

The Arsenal u21s had already qualified for the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy before Tuesday night, but they needed a win against group leaders Reading to secure top spot.

That was never going to be easy, with Reading having thrashed Exeter (9-0) and Swindon (5-0) in their other two games. But the young Gunners had some assistance, with Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson dropping down to the side.

With Vieira picking up a suspension for the first team, this was a rare opportunity to get some minutes, whilst Nelson simply hasn’t spent much time on the pitch lately.

But things didn’t go to plan in the opening half-hour, with Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Caylan Vickers giving Reading a 2-0 lead.

Arsenal then pulled one back from the penalty spot, with Khayon Edwards brought down after being played in by Reuell Walters.

Vieira stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent his countryman Joel Pereira the wrong way for 2-1.

The potential comeback didn’t last long though, with Ehibhatiomhan scoring his second of the match two minutes later to make it 3-1 at half-time.

Nelson had his best moment of the game after the break, with a fantastic run down the left-hand side ending with a cutback for a simple finish for Edwards.

Once again, the good feeling didn’t last long, as Walters conceded a penalty. But Ovie Ejeheri made a good save to keep the score at 3-2.

Eight minutes later, Harvey Knibbs made it 4-2, but Arsenal had a chance to drag themselves back into the contest in the 82nd minute as Nelson won another penalty for the young Gunners.

Once again, Vieira stepped up to the spot, but this time his compatriot made the save.

Arsenal were then reduced to 10 after Ayden Heaven’s reckless challenge earned him a red card, and Sam Smith compounded the team’s woes in injury time by making it 5-2.

After seven goals, two missed penalties, one scored, and one red card, the match finally came to an end, consigning Arsenal to a second-place finish.

You can watch the highlights here or below, with Arsenal’s first penalty at the timestamp 0:40, Nelson’s assist at 1:16, Ejeheri’s penalty save at 1:44, Arsenal’s second penalty at 2:06, and the Heaven red-card incident at 2:28.

Arsenal u21 lineup vs Reading

Ejeheri, Walters, Foran, Monlouis, Heaven, Henry-Francis, Ibrahim, Vieira, Sagoe Jr., Nelson, Edwards

Substitutes

Gower (for Henry-Francis, 55), Azeez (for Ibrahim, 56), Ferdinand (for Monlouis, 78), Nichols (for Nelson, 90+5), Hillson, Kacurri, I. Oulad M’Hand

What’s next?

The group stage still isn’t completely over, so we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the knockout stage draw.

The Arsenal u21s won’t be back in action until Monday, December 4th at 19:00 GMT, when they take on West Bromwich Albion away from home.

Before that, the Arsenal u19s will play Lens at home on Wednesday, November 29th at 13:00 GMT in the UEFA Youth League, with many of the same players set to feature.