Arsenal wasted the opportunity to win the Under-21 Premier League Group 2 title on Monday, losing a must-win clash with West Bromwich Albion 2-1.
Jack Wilshere scored the Gunners' only goal of the match, but despite persistent possession and a string of chances, Arsenal couldn't find a late equaliser. As a result, Derby County win the Group 2 title and will qualify for next year's Group 1 competition directly, while the Gunners will enter the Group 2 play-offs.
Elsewhere, Everton beat Manchester City 1-0, and Swansea City cruised to a 3-0 win over Fulham.
Here’s a look at Monday’s results:
U21 EPL Results
| Swansea | 3-0 | Fulham |
| Arsenal | 1-2 | West Brom |
| Blackburn | 2-2 | Aston Villa |
| Everton | 1-0 | Manchester City |
| Southampton | 3-2 | Norwich |
The current U21 Premier League standings:
U21 EPL Standings
| Group 1 | PL | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Sunderland U21 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 38 | 20 | 43 |
| Manchester United U21 | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 39 | 15 | 42 |
| Everton U21 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 26 | 33 |
| Manchester City U21 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 33 | 25 | 31 |
| Tottenham U21 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 42 | 40 | 27 |
| Southampton U21 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 37 | 39 | 27 |
| Reading U21 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 34 | 40 | 27 |
| Chelsea U21 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 25 | 26 |
| Liverpool U21 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 34 | 25 |
| Middlesbrough U21 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 32 | 34 | 20 |
| Norwich U21 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 29 | 48 | 19 |
| Leicester U21 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 45 | 18 |
| Group 2 | PL | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Derby U21 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 44 | 26 | 42 |
| Arsenal U21 | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 40 | 25 | 40 |
| Swansea U21 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 42 | 24 | 39 |
| Aston Villa U21 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 28 | 27 | 39 |
| Blackburn U21 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 29 | 33 | 34 |
| West Brom U21 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 24 | 20 | 33 |
| West Ham U21 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 37 | 34 | 32 |
| Stoke City U21 | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 24 | 24 | 32 |
| Fulham U21 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 29 | 29 |
| Newcastle Utd U21 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 30 | 48 | 18 |
| Brighton U21 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 36 | 14 |
| Wolves U21 | 22 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 35 | 13 |
The schedule for the upcoming U21 Premier League fixtures:
U21 EPL Schedule
| Date | Home | vs. |