Monday December 17, 2012 Day 17 Finished Madejski Stadium

Reading 2 - 5 Arsenal

  • Le Fondre 66’
  • Kebe 71’
  • Podolski 14’
  • Cazorla 32’, 34’, 60’
  • Walcott 80’

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  1. Premier League - Cazorla hits treble as Arsenal outclass Reading

    Premier League - Cazorla hits treble as Arsenal outclass Reading

    Santi Cazorla hit a hat-trick as Arsenal recovered from their League Cup loss at Bradford with a 5-2 win at Reading. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Reading
    • Arsenal
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+3' Federici comes off his line to save from Giroud, but that will be the final action of the night. A comfortable 5-2 win for Arsenal which could have been more convincing.
    • 89' Flag goes up against Giroud. We are into three minutes of time added on.
    • 88' Arsenal will be only two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with this victory.
    • 87' Vermaelen makes an important challenge to win the ball from McAnuff as he prepared to pull the trigger from the edge of the box.
    • 86' Currently there have been 14 goals scored in the last two Premier League matches at the Madejski Stadium. Most of them finding the back of the Reading net.
    • 85' Arsenal trying some lovely passing stuff out. Smile back on Wenger's face after that mini-comeback by the home side.
    • 84' McCleary shows some pace and throws over a probing cross, but Arsenal manage to deal with the danger.
    • 83' Change for Arsenal as Giroud arrives to replace Walcott for the visiting team.
    • 82' Arsenal have scored five goals in a Premier League away match for the first time in 14 months, since the 5-3 victory at Chelsea. They last scored six at Everton in Aug 2009.
    • 81' Cazorla departs to be replaced by Francis Coquelin for the visiting side.
    • 80' Podolski fires the ball wide of goal after being sent in Walcott. Arsenal could yet hit a sixth here. Reading ripped apart by pace.
    • 79' GOAL! Walcott accepts the pass from Cazorla to slide the ball into the corner of the net after some neat build-up work. A 5-2 lead now for Arsenal, who can breathe a little easier.
    • 78' Wilshere wins the ball from Shorey. Mariappa rises to head clear with Cazorla looking to pounce on any errors at the back.
    • 77' If Cazorla scores again he will be the third Arsenal player to score a record four goals in a match, after Thierry Henry (v Leeds in 2004) and Andrey Arshavin (v Liverpool in 2009).
    • 76' Tabb with a late challenge on Wilshere, who is far from happy with the nature of that tackle. No booking though for Tabb.
    • 75' Arsenal with 18 shots at goal compared to four from Reading. But Reading have two goals from their efforts.
    • 74' The only club in Premier League history to fail to win after leading by four goals is Arsenal – drawing 4-4 at Newcastle in Feb 2011.
    • 73' Aaron Ramsey is going to replace Oxlade-Chamberlain for the visiting side.
    • 72' Arsenal hit on the break here as Cazorla sees a shot blocked by Federici. Fine stop by the keeper as that ball was travelling.
    • 71' Garath McCleary has replaced Kebe for Reading.
    • 70' Wilshere has been booked for a late tackle on Gorkss.
    • 69' GOAL! Kebe slides the ball beyond Szczesny with Arsenal cut wide open by the smart play of Robson-Kanu. Suddenly it is 4-2.
    • 68' Mariappa manages to head the ball back into the arms of Federici in the Reading goal.
    • 67' Adam Le Fondre scored his fifth Premier League goal of the season. He has scored four in the club’s last three Premier League home matches.
    • 66' Not exactly the start of a fightback, but at least Reading have a bright moment on a fairly bleak night for their side.
    • 65' GOAL! Le Fondre takes advantage of some awful Arsenal defending to net. Gibbs gave the ball to Tabb as Wilshere slipped. He fed Le Fondre, who rounds Szczesny with ease to net. 4-1 now.
    • 64' McAnuff goes to ground in the Arsenal box. Faint appeals for a penalty, but was just a stumble and a fall.
    • 63' Cazorla is also the eighth different midfielder to score a Premier League hat trick for Arsenal and first since Theo Walcott v Blackpool in Aug 2010.
    • 62' There are more goals in this for Arsenal as Walcott's shot is blocked by Federici.
    • 61' Reading make changes as Adam Le Fondre replaces Pavel Pogrebnyak and Hal Robson-Kanu takes over from Noel Hunt.
    • 60' Santi Cazorla becomes the third Spaniard to score a Premier League hat trick after Fernando Torres and Jordi Gomez.
    • 59' GOAL! Cazorla slides the ball into the net from eight yards out with Reading cut open. Wilshere to Podolski and the ball to Cazorla. And that is all too easy. Lovely goal. The hat-trick for the Spanish player.
    • 58' Per Mertesacker sees a shot deflect beyond the goal via Gorkss. A fine delivery by Walcott from the corner.
    • 57' Arsenal almost playing this like a training session as they earn another corner here.
    • 56' Lovely piece of play by Cazorla to dance into the Reading box. The home side have enough bodies back to deal with the danger.
    • 55' Wenger looking serious on the touchline, but must be more than content with how this has worked out for his side.
    • 54' Not long before Arsenal are back in possession as Walcott sends a shot spinning a couple of yards wide from distance.
    • 53' Reading trying to get themselves on the ball. Shorey sends Pogrebnyak clear, but he is caught narrowly offside.
    • 52' Really wretched stuff by Reading at the back. Almost cut wide open every time Arsenal venture forward.
    • 51' Cazorla almost in for his hat-trick, but Mariappa knocks the shot off his line before Federici grasps the loose ball.
    • 50' Pavel Pogrebnyak trying to chase down a loose ball, but all too easy for Thomas Vermaelen to deal with the danger.
    • 49' Kebe with a decent ball into the box, but Sagna does well to make sure Hunt can't get a shot away as Arsenal clear with little fuss.
    • 48' Arsenal’s biggest ever Premier League away victories were by a 6-1 score line – at Middlesbrough (1999) and Everton (2009). On each occasion they were 3-0 up at half time.
    • 47' Oxlade-Chamberlain drives the ball over the bar from outside of the home area as Arsenal pick up from where they left off in the first half.
    • 46' Reading get the second half off and running.
    • 45+1' There goes the whistle for the break. A 3-0 lead for Arsenal. This match looks well and truly over.
    • 44' Arsenal have scored three goals in the first half of a Premier League away match for the first time since April 2011 (at Tottenham). One minute added to the half.
    • 43' Federici forced to dive to make the stop from the Oxlade-Chamberlain header. Fine piece of goalkeeping after a decent delivery from Sagna.
    • 42' Kebe tries to dink a cross into the Arsenal box, but it lacks any real direction as Mertesacker clears with some ease.
    • 41' Mikele Leigertwood lumps the ball down from his box. Arsenal with 10 shots at goal compared to only two from the home side. Story of the night.
    • 40' Cazorla tries to set up Podolski. More panic stations in that Reading area every time the ball is played in.
    • 39' Reading bundle the ball clear from Walcott's corner. No headed clearance. Not the most convincing piece of defending in keeping with the theme of this first period.
    • 38' Wilshere heading off the park after receiving some treatment as Arsenal earn another corner.
    • 37' McAnuff picks up a booking for a late on Wilshere. Didn't look to be intentional as McAnuff protests his innocence to the referee.
    • 36' Reading have now conceded seven first half goals in their last two Premier League matches at the Madejski Stadium.
    • 35' Wenger cutting a content and relaxed figure. The Arsenal fans singing "We love you Arsenal". And that Reading defence at the moment.
    • 34' Santi Cazorla scored his first ever Premier League double. If he scores again he will become the third Spaniard to score a Premier League hat trick after Fernando Torres and Jordi Gomez.
    • 33' Not really sure what Reading are doing at the back. Horrendous marking and this game is more or less over after 33 minutes.
    • 32' GOAL! Cazorla slides the ball into the net from eight yards. A 3-0 lead now for Arsenal after Gibbs had headed back across the face of goal from Podolski's delivery.
    • 31' Arsene Wenger off the bench with a huge smile on his face. That will be a welcome sight to the visiting fans after the defeat to Bradford last week.
    • 30' GOAL! Cazorla meets the ball from Podolski to head home from close range. Reading marking fresh air at the back. 2-0 now.
    • 29' Walcott and Cazorla proving to be a real handful for this Reading rearguard. Arsenal keep coming and coming.
    • 28' Reading scramble the ball clear after another speedy Arsenal attack. Some lovely attacking play involving Cazorla that time.
    • 27' Reading have come from behind to pick up five points this season – all have come at home. They beat Everton and drew with both Stoke and Fulham.
    • 26' Thomas Vermaelen comes up with a brilliant clearance to deal with Pavel Pogrebnyak's cross. Hunt was waiting to tap that into the net. Fine defending.
    • 25' Federici manages to claw out the shot by Wilshere after some decent stuff by Podolski. Arsenal so close to a second goal.
    • 24' Arsenal keeping the ball with some relish here. Reading can't get any period of time to settle as Hunt heads clear a Walcott corner.
    • 23' Arsenal have kept six Premier League clean sheets this season – only Stoke with eight have more. Man City, West Ham and Chelsea also have six. By contrast, Reading have only one clean sheet – fewer than any other club.
    • 22' Wojciech Szczesny off his line to clasp the corner by Shorey. Really sound goalkeeping by the Polish international.
    • 21' Adam Federici spreads himself well to make the stop from Walcott after he was sent racing through on goal by Walcott. Glorious chance spurned to add the second.
    • 20' A shot from Podolski swerves well wide after some decent play in the Reading box by Gibbs.
    • 19' All of Podolski’s five Premier League goals have come in the first half of matches – the same number of first half goal as Wayne Rooney, Steven Fletcher and Fernando Torres. Only Robin van Persie (eight) has more.
    • 18' Tabb caught narrowly offside seconds later. Wenger and assistant manager Steve Bould busy debating the goings on so far.
    • 17' Cazorla lets fly from distance, but the ball swerves narrowly away from the goalkeeper and the goal. Arsenal continue to keep up this momentum.
    • 16' Lukas Podolski scored his fifth Premier League goal for Arsenal, and first away from home since September 2. It was also only his second Premier League opening goal – the other came in the 2-0 victory at Liverpool.
    • 15' Reading continue to bleed goals. Obvious why they are bottom of the table when you see that level of defending. Arsenal utterly dominant in possession.
    • 14' Arsene Wenger applauds the quality of that move. Much more like it from Arsenal. Real pressure now on Reading.
    • 13' GOAL! Podolski collects the cross from Gibbs before slamming the volley into the net. Fine finish, but awful defending by the home side.
    • 12' Adrian Mariappa collects the loose ball after Walcott's touch eludes him at the key moment. Arsenal continue keeping the ball well.
    • 11' An offside flag goes up against Kebe after he set off too soon. We remain at 0-0.
    • 10' Hunt meets the corner from Shorey, but flicks the ball over the bar. Arsenal not marking tightly enough.
    • 9' The Arsenal fans singing the name of Cazorla as some more decent play by Pavel Pogrebnyak earns Reading a corner.
    • 8' Arsenal have lost two of their last 12 Premier League away matches in the month of December – both in Manchester (at United and City). Their last away defeat in the month outside of Manchester was 2-1 at Middlesbrough in 2007.
    • 7' Pavel Pogrebnyak showing some neat skills to release McAnuff, but he can't fire a shot at goal and Arsenal survive before breaking to the other end. Dangerous moments for the visitors.
    • 6' Walcott fires a free-kick at the Reading goal. Always heading wide of the target. And Reading will have another goalkick here.
    • 5' Cummings knocks the ball behind his own goal for a corner to Arsenal. Nobody on the end of Walcott's corner. Arsenal continue to keep possession.
    • 4' Gibbs tries and fails to pick out Walcott and that will be a goalkick to the home side. Federici hammers the goalkick down the park.
    • 3' Arsenal starting here on the front foot. Reading being forced back, but Podolski gives the ball away needlessly on the edge of the home area.
    • 2' Adam Federici forced to pull off a fine stop to deny Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the opening seconds before Podolski is caught offside.
    • 1' We are off and running then at the Madejski Stadium.
    • 19:57 Here is a reminder of that astonishing match back in October in the League Cup. Reading v Arsenal | Result | League Cup 2012-2013 - Yahoo Eurosport UK
    • 19:55 Teams out on the park. Reading in blue and white, Arsenal in red.
    • 19:50 Reading have lost their last five Premier League matches – the longest losing streak of any Premier League club this season. Only one Premier League club has had a longer losing streak in 2012 – Wolves lost seven in a row from March to April. Reading have failed to win their last five Premier League matches in the month of December, losing the last four, since a 2-1 home win against Sunderland in 2007.
    • 19:45 Match odds for this one if you are after a flutter: Reading (9/2) Arsenal (8/13) Draw (3/1)
    • 19:40 Arsene Wenger (Arsenal): "I believe it's a good opportunity to show that we are strong inside the club and let people talk. We are criticised when results are not good, we have to take that on the chin, but (when) we have to face a lot of lies, (it) is less acceptable."
    • 19:35 Brian McDermott (Reading) on Danny Guthrie apologising for refusing to travel to Sunderland: "He asked me if he could speak to the entire group before training. It took a lot of courage for him to do that and he deserves respect for his reaction. Every person in life makes mistakes and Danny apologised to all of his team-mates and the staff in a group meeting.Now myself, the players and staff will all move on. We have 22 games ahead of us and together as one unit we can achieve our goals."
    • 19:30 Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud is on the bench after missing Tuesday's League Cup defeat at Bradford City with a back injury while Laurent Koscielny is also on the bench after suffering a groin injury at the end of November. The fitness of Theo Walcott continues to be assessed, but he starts up front.
    • 19:25 Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak starts the Premier League clash with Arsenal. But there is no Jason Roberts who has a hip injury. Jimmy Kebe (groin) and Jem Karacan (knee) have returned to training but do not play, while Sean Morrison (ankle) is still sidelined and Alex McCarthy is out long term.
    • 19:20 Teams: Reading: Federici, Cummings, Shorey, Gorkss, Mariappa, Leigertwood, Tabb, Kebe, McAnuff, Hunt, Pogrebnyak..subs: Taylor, Gunter, Pearce, Le Fondre, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Harte////Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla; Podolski, Chamberlain, Walcott..subs: Mannone, Koscielny, Rosicky, Giroud, Ramsey, Coquelin, Gervinho
    • 19:15 Good evening and welcome to LIVE coverage of Reading against Arsenal from the Madejski Stadium. An 8pm start in this one. Pressure on both teams to get a result tonight with Reading battling relegation and Arsenal trying to bury the memory of their loss to Bradford City on penalties in the League Cup last week.

  • Summary

    • 80' Podolski fires the ball wide of goal after being sent in Walcott. Arsenal could yet hit a sixth here. Reading ripped apart by pace.
    • 79' GOAL! Walcott accepts the pass from Cazorla to slide the ball into the corner of the net after some neat build-up work. A 5-2 lead now for Arsenal, who can breathe a little easier.
    • 72' Arsenal hit on the break here as Cazorla sees a shot blocked by Federici. Fine stop by the keeper as that ball was travelling.
    • 69' GOAL! Kebe slides the ball beyond Szczesny with Arsenal cut wide open by the smart play of Robson-Kanu. Suddenly it is 4-2.
    • 65' GOAL! Le Fondre takes advantage of some awful Arsenal defending to net. Gibbs gave the ball to Tabb as Wilshere slipped. He fed Le Fondre, who rounds Szczesny with ease to net. 4-1 now.
    • 59' GOAL! Cazorla slides the ball into the net from eight yards out with Reading cut open. Wilshere to Podolski and the ball to Cazorla. And that is all too easy. Lovely goal. The hat-trick for the Spanish player.
    • 51' Cazorla almost in for his hat-trick, but Mariappa knocks the shot off his line before Federici grasps the loose ball.
    • 43' Federici forced to dive to make the stop from the Oxlade-Chamberlain header. Fine piece of goalkeeping after a decent delivery from Sagna.
    • 32' GOAL! Cazorla slides the ball into the net from eight yards. A 3-0 lead now for Arsenal after Gibbs had headed back across the face of goal from Podolski's delivery.
    • 30' GOAL! Cazorla meets the ball from Podolski to head home from close range. Reading marking fresh air at the back. 2-0 now.
    • 26' Thomas Vermaelen comes up with a brilliant clearance to deal with Pavel Pogrebnyak's cross. Hunt was waiting to tap that into the net. Fine defending.
    • 25' Federici manages to claw out the shot by Wilshere after some decent stuff by Podolski. Arsenal so close to a second goal.
    • 21' Adam Federici spreads himself well to make the stop from Walcott after he was sent racing through on goal by Walcott. Glorious chance spurned to add the second.
    • 17' Cazorla lets fly from distance, but the ball swerves narrowly away from the goalkeeper and the goal. Arsenal continue to keep up this momentum.
    • 13' GOAL! Podolski collects the cross from Gibbs before slamming the volley into the net. Fine finish, but awful defending by the home side.
    • 19:20 Teams: Reading: Federici, Cummings, Shorey, Gorkss, Mariappa, Leigertwood, Tabb, Kebe, McAnuff, Hunt, Pogrebnyak..subs: Taylor, Gunter, Pearce, Le Fondre, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Harte////Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla; Podolski, Chamberlain, Walcott..subs: Mannone, Koscielny, Rosicky, Giroud, Ramsey, Coquelin, Gervinho

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4.5 8
      Defenders
      3.6 5
      4 5
      3.4 5
      4.1 5
      Midfielders
      3.8 5
      3.5 5
      Goal Substitution Out73′ 4.7 6
      Yellow Card 4 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out61′ 4 5
      Substitution Out61′ 3.8 5
      Subs
      Substitution In61′ Goal 6.5 6
      Substitution In73′ 4.4 6
      Substitution In61′ 5.2 5
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.1 6
      Defenders
      6.1 6
      6.1 6
      6 6
      6.5 7
      Midfielders
      6.3 6
      Yellow Card 6.6 7
      Substitution Out74′ 6.6 6
      Goals ×3 Substitution Out83′ 8.4 9
      Goal 7.7 8
      Strikers
      Goal Substitution Out85′ 7.1 8
      Subs
      Substitution In85′ 7 6
      Substitution In74′ 4.9 6
      Substitution In83′ 5.2 6

Comment 125 - 145 of 145

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  1. Aresenal football very intersect but not realest

    From Netsanet, on Thu 28 Feb 8:25

  2. this was such a nail biting match.... i was thinking it­ would be a repeat of when we played NUFC when they­ came back to make it 4-4! so happy we won tho

    From Sarah, on Wed 26 Dec 14:04

  3. The Arsenal "soccer graph" is almost heading­ up! Tighten the grip Gunners...

    From KENNEDY, on Tue 18 Dec 13:12

  4. No clean sheet, should be ashamed of themselves lol but­ thx for the 75 points in fantasy football

    From Martin S, on Tue 18 Dec 10:36

  5. The attack was decent, but if we're conceding two­ against the bottom team... there's some hope­ for a comeback but the performances still need more­ solidity than this. This is a good place to start from­ though

    From Al, on Tue 18 Dec 6:57

  6. By now, AW should have identified his best FIRST­ ELEVEN, from this game 1st half was encouraging, with­ the introduction of critised Ramsy, and yet to form­ Giroud it was 50:50. Wenger select your best 11 and you­ will see things move. Even the fans can help you to­ select the team. The beautty of a football game is the­ pass and of course the scores. But dribbling until ones­ looses the ball kills the game. We have many culprits­ here. You can still do something on top of getting one­ finisher and one more defender/stopper to replace Song.

    From asuga, on Tue 18 Dec 3:43

  7. good to have podolski back.. he is reliabe shoots goal­ and play the best with santi..

    From Eddy, on Mon 17 Dec 23:56

  8. great performance and more like arsenal, cazorla in my­ fantasy team worked a treat lol

    From swanbiff, on Mon 17 Dec 23:02

  9. How come carzola never dived like last time, he will­ try to get a goal even if it resorts to cheating!

    From giant, on Mon 17 Dec 22:56

  10. trust my gunners.go gunner,show them what the team can­ become

    From Olatoye emmanuel Sodipo, on Mon 17 Dec 22:52

  11. Lukas PoGOALski

    From BeatSteaks, on Mon 17 Dec 22:39

  12. Great result hope arsenal keep up this run

    From olalekan, on Mon 17 Dec 22:33

  13. And Wenger blames the ref ..........no, hang on a­ minute, he was about to then realised they'd won.

    From oboe, on Mon 17 Dec 22:22

  14. Arsenal have managed to create a three point gap­ between themselves and stoke city after half a season­ of football. Open top bus parade?

    From Ted, on Mon 17 Dec 22:15

  15. well done arsenal ,not convinced yet ,leaking to many­ goals ,makes for a good match but reading must be going­ straight down ,its a shame but when you go up you have­ to buy big .

    From Graham, on Mon 17 Dec 22:15

  16. What a phenominal season Arsenal are having they are­ now only 2 behind Spurs, level with the fantastic­ Everton & West Brom & actually 2 ahead of­ Norwich wawee what a season.

    From JOHN, on Mon 17 Dec 22:15

  17. So much for slipping to the middle of the table. Two­ points behind Spurs and closing in on Chelsea. Normal­ service resumed.

    From , on Mon 17 Dec 22:13

  18. well we needed a win and we got it we cant help who we­ play alls we can do is beat them,, welldone lads lets­ put a run together and get above that team in 4th sorry­ cant bring myself to say the name...

    From JULIE, on Mon 17 Dec 22:09

  19. Congrats ArsenHole. You've just beaten the team­ that has only won 1 game out of 17. You are now nearly­ on a level par with Toittenham. Close, but no cigar!

    From Robert Jardine, on Mon 17 Dec 22:07

  20. How interesting.

    From Paul, on Mon 17 Dec 22:01
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