Player Ratings: Exeter City 0-5 Arsenal: Player Ratings

Mehmet Ali's Young Guns sealed their first EFL Trophy victory this term after a powerful second-half performance swept aside League One side Exeter City 5-0 on Tuesday evening. 

With the score goalless at the break, five goals from Charles Sagoe Jr, Khayon Edwards, Jack Henry-Francis, and a brace from substitute Seb Ferdinand on for experienced first-team defender Cedric Soares. 

The victory over Exeter confirms Arsenal's place in the knockout stages of the competition with still a game to play. 

The Gunners move up to five points and remain second, a point behind Reading. 

Arsenal's final match is against Reading on Tuesday, November 14 - which will decide who finishes top of the group.

Following the international break, the U21s are back in Premier League 2 action at home to Brighton on Sunday, October 29, with a 2pm kick-off at Meadow Park.

Goals: Sagoe Jr (61), Ferdinand (78, 90+6), Edwards (83), Henry-Francis (90)

Bookings: Henry-Francis (9), Sweet (54)

............

Arsenal XI:

Ejeheri 8/10 - (Hillson, 63) - 8/10 - Clean sheet for both keepers at the Devon St James's Park

Cedric 8/10 - (Ferdinand, 68) 8/10 - The experienced 32-year-old Portuguese international enjoyed a good run out against the Grecians - followed by Ferdinand grabbing two late goals to add to the rout 

Foran 8/10 - Put in a shift 

Monlouis 8/10 - Solid captain's display from the back

Heaven 8/10 - Made his U21 debut 

Sweet 8/10 - Another excellent performance defensively and offensively by the young defender 

Ibrahim 8/10 - First half shot deflected off the crossbar

Henry-Francis 8/10 - Scored on 90 minutes to complete the rout 

Dudziak 8/10 - Featured in Arsenal's U18s UEFA Youth League - Edwards, 68 - 8/10 - scored with a right-footed shot eight minutes before the end 

Gower 8/10 - Oulad M’Hand, 84 - 8/10 - Assist for Henry-Francis goal

Sagoe Jr - 8.5/10 - A first team debut in the Caraboa Cup at the end of September followed up with a goal to set the young guns on their way to what turned out to be a comfortable victory 

Good to note Charles Sagoe Jnr who made his first team debut for Mikel Arteta’s first team in the 1-0 win at Brentford in the Carabao Cup last month has scored for Arsenal U21s in their EFL Trophy clash down at Exeter City this evening https://t.co/dmYDtS6OGj

— Layth (@laythy29) October 10, 2023