Mehmet Ali's Arsenal U21s side were beaten 5-3 by Aston Villa in Premier League 2 at Meadow Park on Monday evening. 

Premier League starlet Ethan Nwaneri grabbed a couple of late goals to make the score slightly more respectable at Boreham Wood - to make it ten goals in 11 games in Premier League 2 this term.

The Young Guns took the lead as early as the eighth minute with Ismeal Kabia driving down the right flank, with Nwaneri in support as he crossed into the box - but it was touched in by Villa's Aidan Borland for an own goal to put the home side 1-0 up. 

However, Villa fought back with a brace from 18-year-old Kyrie Pierre int he 25th and 47th minutes, supplemented by a pair from claret and blue colleague, 19-year-old forward Kobei Moore to make it 5-1 - after the goals were sandwiched by a strike from exciting attacking presence Travis Patterson. 

5-1 became 5-3 with Nwaneri grabbing two goals in the 87th and 90+5 minutes - but the damage had already been done. 

Arsenal remain sixth in PL2 with 32 points from 18 games, while Villa climb to 18th.

Next up is a trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers on Monday, April 22, which is a 7pm kick-off in PL2.

Find out who impressed with our Gooner Fanzine Player Ratings: 

Okonkwo: 6/10 - Not his best game

Sweet: 6.5/10 - Moved to left-back after the inteval followijng Josh Nichols replacing Lewis-Skelly. Always battles hard and is a genuine first team prospect if he continues his upward trajectory 

Lewis-Skelly: 5/10 - (Nichols 46): A difficult evening and was not as influential as he would have liked to have been - culminating in being subbed at half time. However, he is another who could be on first team fringes next season - or benefit from a loan 

Walters: 6/10 - Supplemented colleagues further forward. Booked 

Heaven: 5/10 - A challenging evening 

Henry-Francis: 6.5/10 - Put in a shift 

Cozier-Duberry: 6.5/10 - Excellent effort that curled narrowly wide of the post and was also denied by an excellent save  - another talent that the club will have to make a decision on where he plays his football next season 

Nwaneri: 7.5/10 - Quite simply this lad is ready for a season around the first team squad as a cup regular - with perhaps a loan to a Premier League side the year after 

Butler-Oyedeji: 6.5/10 - Had a couple of chances, hit the post, and generally had some good moments 

Gower: 7/10 - (Oulad M'Hand 66): Another lively performance. Booked

Kabia: 6/10 - Should perhaps have done better with his chance fashioned by Jimi Gower but headed over. also hit the post. Switched wings with Cozier-Duberry