2016 Barclays Premier League 2: Friday U23 Result, Updated Table and Schedule

Reading grabbed a confident 2-0 win over Arsenal in the first-ever Premier League 2 match at Meadow Park on Friday.

The Royals had the better of a scrappy first period, with the Gunners struggling to carve out chances. The visitors got the reward their dominance deserved after half-time, with Andy Rinomhota and substitute Harry Cardwell bagging the goals.

Manchester United, who won the Under 21 league last term, will begin their campaign with a clash against Leicester City on Monday. Beforehand, youngsters from Chelsea and Liverpool will be in action on Sunday against Sunderland and Southampton, respectively.

Here are the standings following Friday’s contest and a look ahead to the matches to come.

Date	Time (BST)	Home	Away
Saturday, August 13	2 p.m.	Stoke City U23	West Ham U23
Sunday, August 14	12:05 p.m.	Sunderland U23	Chelsea U23
Sunday, August 14	1 p.m.	Liverpool U23	Southampton U23
Monday, August 15	7 p.m.	Aston Villa U23	Wolves U23
Monday, August 15	7 p.m.	Derby County U23	Manchester City U23
Monday, August 15	7 p.m.	Fulham U23	Blackburn U23
Monday, August 15	7 p.m.	Manchester United U23	Leicester City U23
Monday, August 15	7 p.m.	Middlesbrough U23	Brighton & Hove Albion U23
Monday, August 15	7 p.m.	Norwich City U23	Newcastle United U23
Monday, August 15	7 p.m.	Swansea City U23	West Brom U23
Monday, August 15	7 p.m.	Tottenham Hotspur U23	Everton U23

Division 1	Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	D	P
#	Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	D	P
1	Reading U23	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	3
2	Chelsea U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
3	Derby County U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
4	Everton U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
5	Leicester City U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
6	Liverpool U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
7	Manchester City U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
8	Manchester United U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
9	Southampton U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
10	Sunderland U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
11	Tottenham U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
12	Arsenal U23	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0
1	Aston Villa U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
2	Blackburn Rovers U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
3	Brighton U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
4	Fulham U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
5	Middlesbrough U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
6	Newcastle United U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
7	Norwich City U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
8	Stoke City U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
9	Swansea City U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
10	West Bromwich Albion U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
11	West Ham United U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0
12	Wolves U23	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	0

Reading Secured Deserved Win Over Arsenal

The format of the reserve league has been tweaked slightly by the Premier League for the 2016-17 campaign, increasing the standard age limit by two years. The competition format—two divisions—remained the same, with the sides involved able to field a goalkeeper and no more than three outfield players above the age bracket, per the official website.

The curtain-raiser for the rejigged tournament saw Arsenal host Reading, with the visitors much the brighter in the first period.

Arsenal started the stronger initially, although Reading quickly found their groove in the match. Martin Kuhl’s players were giving the Gunners little time to click into their passing game, with Josh Barrett wriggling into space and stinging the palms of Matt Macey.

It set the tempo for the match from the away side, with Barrett looking especially lively. Indeed, another well-struck shot from the forward was blocked, before Craig Tanner thought he'd given the Royals the lead before the linesman raised his flag.

Although they were unable to breach the Arsenal defence after 45 minutes, the team's Twitter feed waxed lyrical about Reading's display:

The slicker football continued to come for the Royals after the interval, with Arsenal manager Steve Gatting seemingly unsure of how to stem the blue and white tide.

Andrija Novakovich came close just after the restart for Reading, before Tanner struck a volley over after more neat play.

It looked like it may be one of those frustrating nights for Reading as we approached the last 20 minutes. But finally Kuhl's men added the finishing touches to one of their moves, as Rinomhota thrashed in an excellent finish to take the lead in the 71st minute.

Just 11 minutes later they made the game safe and once again it was a fine goal, as Cardwell scooped in an audacious finish.

Arsenal had no time to recover from this double setback. Gatting will be a little concerned by the toothless nature of this display, although things don't get any easier for his team with a trip to Manchester City to come. Reading, having flirted with relegation last term, have set a high standard for the rest of the campaign.