Arsenal Under-21s don grab dia first Premier League 2 win of di season after dem beat Aston Villa 5-2, and William Saliba also mark im return from injury by playing di first half for Meadow Park, home of Boreham Wood.
Saliba start for central defence alongside Marli Salmon, before Elijah Upson replace am at half-time as Arsenal dey manage im comeback carefully. Di France international bin dey sidelined since start of season with back injury.
Match no start well for Arsenal. Cole Brannigan give Aston Villa lead after just five minutes, scoring im first Under-21 goal since April. But Arsenal respond fast: Maalik Hashi equalise for 24th minute, and Andre Harriman-Annous put dem ahead three minutes later. Saliba finish im afternoon at break with Arsenal in front.
After half-time, Harriman-Annous add im second goal. Max Dowman, di 16-year-old wey dey serve three-match domestic suspension after red card in Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town, also score Arsenal fourth goal. Dowman appeal against di ban no succeed, and he don already miss Premier League games against Liverpool and Hull City; he go also sit out trip to Newcastle United.
Aston Villa pull one back late through Jack McGrath, but Evan Mooney score deep into stoppage time, for fourth minute of additional time, to restore Arsenal three-goal lead and seal back-to-back wins in all competitions for di first time dis season.
Di result lift Arsenal to 21st place for Premier League 2 with seven points. For Saliba, di outing na another step as he near end of im recovery. He bin return to first-team matchday squad for Champions League win at Slavia Prague, though he no come off bench.
During im absence, summer signing Ezri Konsa impress alongside Gabriel Magalhães, keeping seven clean sheets in 13 starts for di Premier League champions. With Saliba back, Arteta go dey hope say he fit get di Frenchman available as Arsenal look to extend dia lead at di Premier League summit after international break.
