MIDDLESBROUGH’S development side moved a giant step closer to the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Division title as they claimed a 3-2 win over Arsenal at the Riverside.

Goals from Emmanuel Ledesma, Lewis Maloney and Yanic Wildschut sent Boro’s second string five points clear at the top of the table with just three games still to play.

The Teessiders’ success owed much to the 14th-minute dismissal of Arsenal goalkeeper Deyan Iliev, who saw red when he miscontrolled a back-pass and brought down Harry Chapman in the penalty area.

Ledesma scored from the spot, but despite being reduced to ten men, Arsenal equalised on the half-hour mark when skipper Alex Iwobi beat two defenders before drilling home.

Boro reclaimed their lead five minutes later, with Maloney working his way into space before lashing a 30-yard strike into the top corner.

The Teessiders scored a third goal before the interval, with Wildschut breaking free of his marker in order to drill home, and while Daniel Crowley clawed a goal back for Arsenal with 18 minutes left, Boro held on to take full advantage of second-placed Derby’s 1-0 defeat to Reading.

Middlesbrough: Ripley, Weledji, Jackson, Burn, Kitching, Tinkler (Wheatley 80), Maloney, Chapman, Brobbel (Cooke 62), Wildschut, Ledesma.