Arsenal win an impressive win last night over Reading. Arsenal moved up to 5th in the table and Reading remains last with 6 points to Southampton and Wigan.
The last time both teams met at Madejski stadium, Arsenal recovered from a 4:0. However, Arsenal was motivated anyway as they just returned from a devastating Capital One Cup loss against League Two Bradford City. Theo Walcott started as the central striker and Arsenal dominated from the beginning. Lukas Podolski gave Arsenal the lead in the 14th minute and scored with a perfect first touch past Federici. In the 32nd minute, Cazorla scored a great Podolski cross and extended the lead to 2:0 for Arsenal. Reading was struggling and Cazorla added third goal after terrible marking from close range. Nothing really changed during the half-time and Cazorla completed his hat-trick after an hour when Podolski unselfishly set him up – 4:0 Arsenal after 60 minutes. Cazorla is only the third Spaniard to score a Premier League hat-trick. Reading, however came back and Adam Le Fondre and Jimmy Kebe scored twice within five minutes – a short déjà-vu for Arsenal after the previous game against Reading. Theo Walcott scored the final 5:2 in the 80th minute and secured the 3 points for Arsenal. Overall a great performance by Arsenal especially Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski and Cazorla impressed.
Reading coach Brian McDermott said “I was very pleased with the response in the second half. Now we’ll stick together and move on. We’ve got to fight, no doubt about that – that’s the only choice we have.”
Arsene Wenger said: “”Overall it was important to go out and play and give the right answer on the football pitch.”
Arsenal will play Wigan on Saturday and Reading will travel to Manchester City.
