Gilberto 2-0
Arsenal began the game looking a little flat, perhaps not surprising, after recent results. Meanwhile Steve Coppell had made six changes to the side that lost to Fulham and the visitors began the game happy to frustrate Arsenal and keep the game as tight as possible.
However, Arsenal soon got into their quick passing game and it wasn’t long before the chances started to arrive. Hleb found Fabregas wonderfully, the little Spaniard running through on goal but weakly finishing when confronted with Hahnemann.
Moments later it was Adebayor’s turn, a corner finding him in the penalty area with a free header which he managed to divert wide when it seemed easier to score. But Reading were hanging on and as the volume at the Emirates dropped you began to wonder if Arsenal were yet again going to pay for missing chances.
The home side persisted, however, Walcott looking a danger on the right with his pace and Van Persie threatening from set pieces.
After half an hour the breakthrough finally came and it was worth the wait. Toure and Walcott combined beautifully down the right and when Toure’s ball found Adebayor in the penalty area a great first touch took it away from Sonko and he finished past Hahnemann to give the Gunners a deserved lead.
With the lead finally secured Arsenal moved up a gear and began to look as if they might overwhelm the visitors. Toure came racing down the right again and put in a great cross which Fabregas was inches away from converting.
Less than ten minutes later and it was 2-0. Some neat work from Fabregas on the left of the penalty area saw him set up Gilberto nicely for the shot and a wicked deflection off Bikey took it away from Hahnemann and into the back of the net for the Brazilian’s first goal of the season.
The first half couldn’t end quickly enough for Reading as Arsenal took complete control of the match. Van Persie and Toure both going close for the Gunners as they looked to pile on the misery for the Royals.
The second half followed the pattern of the first with Arsenal dominating possession and Reading hanging on for dear life and often simply chasing shadows. Arsenal’s quick passing and the interplay between Fabregas, Walcott and the front two at times a joy to watch, although as has often been the case this season the end result was sometimes lacking.
Van Persie almost made it three with a wonderful free kick which beat the goalkeeper, before hitting the bar and the post and, agonisingly for the Dutchman, bouncing back out again.
Seconds later and the Reading bar was wobbling again as Walcott fired a great shot against the woodwork after some more great work from Fabregas to tee him up.
Although Reading had a brief flurry of their own in the closing stages it was a case of how many more Arsenal might score. Substitute Duberry denied Fabregas on the line and Bikey was saved the embarrassment of an own goal by a flag from the assistant referee.
As it was, Arsenal’s couldn’t add to their first half tally and Reading will be relieved to leave the Emirates with only two goals conceded. However the defeat will ensure a nervy few weeks for Steve Coppell’s men who will be playing for their Premier League lives in their last three games.
No comments:
Post a Comment