Arsenal U21s travelled to Whaddon Road to take on Cheltenham Town in the Checkatrade Trophy. Read on for Layth Yousif’s match report.

Cheltenham Town beat Freddie Ljungberg’s ten-man Arsenal U21 side 6-2 in an entertaining match in the Checkatrade Trophy Southern Group E.

Michael Duff’s side picked up only their third win of the season as they overwhelmed the youngsters from North London.

The Gunners weren’t helped after Robbie Burton received a straight red card from referee Stephen Martin for hauling down Cheltenham’s Jacob Maddox in the seventh minute – even if it was the correct decision.

From the resulting free-kick in a dangerous central position Chris Clements curled in an excellent shot leaving keeper Dejan Iliev no chance to put his side 1-0 up.

Danny Ballard then cleared off the line moments later from Kelsey Mooney as the home side looked to capitalise on the man advantage.

The home side doubled their lead through Will Boyle on 32 minutes against Freddie Ljungberg’s ten-man Gunners after a cross from the right.

Tyreece John-Jules pulled a goal back 120 seconds later after taking the ball around home keeper Scot Flinders before slotting the ball home into an empty net as Duff’s side went in 2-1 up at the break.

The lively Jacob Maddox on loan from Chelsea extended the lead on 47 minutes before the young Blues attacker grabbed a fourth and his second against Ljungberg’s young guns with a powerful, well-aimed header past Iliev.

On 66 minutes Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Tyreece John-Jules went down in the box. There was no dive but the 17-year-old simply fell over in the area as Charlie Gilmour made no mistake from six yards to make it 4-2.

Kelsey Mooney made it five with an emphatic drive on 84 minutes before substitute Ryan Broom made it 6-2 on 90 minutes as Duff’s side sealed a deserved victory, on a night to forget for Arsenal.