Daniel de Ridder scored the winner for Blues Reserves this evening.

Daniel de Ridder scored the winner for Blues Reserves as they overcame an impressive young Arsenal outfit at St. Andrew's this evening.

New loan signing Mauro Zarate played the full 90 minutes and showed up well, particular in the first half with some neat touches of skill, but he faded after the interval.

An entertaining first half ended goalless but just five minutes after the break Mikael Forssell put Blues in front.

James Dunne levelled for Arsenal with a stunning long range effort just four minutes later.

But De Ridder won it for Blues with 16 minutes remaining.

Arsenal were the brighter side in the opening stages and Doyle did well to push aside a shot from Sanchez Watt.

But the Blues keeper almost handed the visitors the lead after his hashed clearance fell at the feet of Rui Fonte but the Arsenal striker failed to take advantage of the gift.

Midway through the half David Howland missed a golden opportunity when he rose unmarked to meet De Ridder's cross but he somehow managed to send his header over the bar from close range when it looked easier to score.

Zarate's first chance came just after the half-hour mark from another De Ridder cross but his attempted header came off his shoulder and flew over the bar into the Railway End.

De Ridder was in the thick of the action again when he linked up well with Forssell but the Dutchman's eventual shot was saved by Vito Mannone.

But the Arsenal keeper almost presented Blues with the opening goal when he mishandled Zarate's tame shot and the ball rolled out of his hands and struck the post.

Mikael Forssell opened the scoring just after half-time.

Forssell's opener came courtesy of some good fortune when the ball rebounded to him in the area after Gary McSheffrey's pass had been cut out and the Finn made no mistake in his typical predatory style.

After Hoyte's equaliser, Howland struck the post with a long range effort of his own.

Zarate failed to get any power behind his shot when well placed on the right of the box and De Ridder blasted over from a similar opportunity.

The Dutch winger missed an even better chance when put through by Forssell and then his cross set up Jordon Mutch just five yards out in front of goal but the ball rolled through the youngster's legs and away from danger.

De Ridder made amends for his earlier misses on 76 minutes when he cut in from the right and fired a low left-footed shot past Mannone.

Arsenal finished the game with ten man when Gavin Hoyte was sent off after kicking out at De Ridder.

Blues: Colin Doyle, Stuart Parnaby, Shaun Timmins (Jared Wilson 70), Martin Taylor, Krystian Pearce, Jordon Mutch, Daniel De Ridder, David Howland (Ashley Sammons 90), Mikael Forssell, Mauro Zarate, Gary McSheffrey.
Subs not used: Dean Lyness, Stefan Milojevic, Jamie Sheldon.