Villa Reserves 10 Arsenal Reserves 1

Villa climbed to the top of the Premier League Reserve South after they crushed Arsenal at home thanks to a Chris Herd hat-trick.

The claret and blues took the lead in the 11th minute when Gary Gardner scored with a long-range effort and their task was made somewhat easier after George Brislen-Hall was sent off for the visitors for a rash tackle on Jonathan Hogg.

Andreas Weimann doubled the lead for Villa six minutes later tapping home from close range and then Herd netted his first of the night in the 40th minute, converting Nathan Baker's knockdown.

Villa continued to press and still found time to add another two goals before the half-time interval.

Hogg got his name on the scoresheet with a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area, after the ball fell to him from a Gardner corner.

Midfielder Gardner, who was making his return from a long-term injury, then scored from the penalty spot after Oguzhan Ozyakup was deemed to have handled inside the penalty area.

Australian midfielder Herd headed home his second in the 64th minute from a Harry Forrester corner and, eight minutes later, striker Nathan Delfouneso scored after turning home a low cross from Weimann.

Delfouneso quickly added a second after latching on to Durrell Berry's clever through ball and calmly slotted home.

Arsenal substitute Roarie Deacon headed home a consolation from a Jay Emmanuel-Thomas free-kick, but Kevin MacDonald's side were not finished yet.

Herd completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute with a close-range header after a scramble inside the penalty area.

And Weimann then took Villa into double figures with a tap in after a run by Delfouneso.