Arsenal U21s were forced to settle for a second place finish in their EFL Trophy group after a chaotic encounter away to Reading in which the young Gunners lost 5-2 despite the involvement of two first-team players in Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.
Vieira and Nelson, two of the first-team squad members who aren't on international duty, were both heavily involved in proceedings. Vieira scored a penalty in the first half but missed one in the second while Nelson, who was making his first appearance at this level since 2021, excelled in the second half and provided an assist for Khayon Edwards, while he also won a spot-kick.
Reading, who are bottom of League One, made eleven changes from their last league fixture.
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