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Sanogo scores hat trick for Arsenal U23s as injury comeback continues

Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo scored a 19-minute hat trick for the under-23s against Reading on Monday, while Alex Iwobi also featured after being dropped from the first team-squad to face Crystal Palace.

Sanogo, who has struggled through several loan spells and missed most of this season with injury, helped the U23s rally from a 2-1 half-time deficit to win 5-2.

He equalised with a header shortly after the break and met a cutback from left-back Cohen Bramall for his second, completing a treble after Carl Jenkinson had made it 4-2.

Arsenal fielded a strong lineup that also included right-back Mathieu Debuchy, yet to be included in any of manager Arsene Wenger's squads since returning from injury in January.

Iwobi was the most surprising starter, even though the 20-year-old has recently lost his starting place in the first team.

The returns of Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Francis Coquelin from injuries have meant there is not room for him in the squad to face Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night.