Reading v Arsenal

Reading lost yet again ....3-0 to Sunderland and remain in deep trouble second from bottom , manager Brian McDermott will be hoping he will not be the next managerial casualty as we head towards Christmas ...just one win so far this season is not a good return and a result against Arsenal would certainly lift the Christmas apirit at Reading .


Arsenal had some luck beating West Brom 2-0 last weekend at the Emirates ...two penalties given that were a tad fortunate lifted the Gunners up to 7th in the table ...Arsene Wenger will however be hoping his side can overcome the midweek shock of losing to Bradford in the League Cup and get back to winnig in the Premier League .

I'm sure that we will see a positive reaction from Arsenal after their humiliating league cup defeat on pens by Bradford.

Reading 1-3 Arsenal

well...that is the expected reaction ..but these days i am not sure what will happen with Arsenal .

0 - 3.

I want to believe

This game will be tough ,REading will take some confidence in knowing they can score against this Arsenal side ,so they will defend with incredible focus ,or at least try to. Arsenal however will have there faith tested big time in this one and if they scrape through it will do their confidence NO GOOD. they need a big win to steady the ship.

I think Wenger is leaving it way too late in his public criticism of the press of late , if he had taken this course earlier i don't think he would be in this position today.

2-3 Arsenal

Did you know that Reading and Arsenal have met 10 times in all competitions, with the Gunners winning them all.

Any more comments or predictions?

Line ups

Reading:
Federici, Cummings, Shorey, Gorkss, Mariappa, Leigertwood, Tabb, Kebe, McAnuff, Hunt, Pogrebnyak

Subs - Harte,Gunter,Le Fondre,McCleary,Pearce,Taylor.Robson-Kanu

Arsenal:
Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla; Podolski, Chamberlain, Walcott

Subs - Rosický,Koscielny,Giroud,Mannone,Ramsey,Coquelin,Gervinho

The Gooners were developing a rep as a side who didn't like 'it up 'em' on a cold Northern night a couple of years ago. However, I think they have since toughened up and will do a professional job here. Don't expect champagne football - Reading 0 Arsenal 2.

I can't see Arsenal getting anything from this game.

The German Frankfurter made in Poland has scored the first goal.

Arsenal 1-0 Reading

HT

Reading 0-3 Arsenal

Podolski 14’,Cazorla 32’, 34’

Will the Gunners go on to score 7 goals in the 2nd half?!

Reading were pants.

Hat-trick! Santi Clauza

oh dear ....2-4 to Arsenal ...surely they cant throw it away now .

FT

Reading 2-5 Arsenal
0-1 Podolski 14’
0-2 Cazorla 32’
0-3 Cazorla 34'
0-4 Cazorla 60'
1-4 Le Fondre 66’
2-4 Kebe 71'
2-5 Walcott 80’

Any comments on todays result?

Was this Cazorla's best display since joining Arsenal?

Is this Reading side doomed to be relegated?

we should have had many more but for their goalkeeper .....a good win even though it was Reading , i cannot see them surviving unless they win one of the next three games .

This is the type of scoreline that will ease the dressing room a bit for now, Anything less than 5 goals would have been a disaster. Those 2 goals for REading were shockers from an ARsenal standpoint ,and that pass by Gibbs to Wilshere almost cost us more than just a goal. I thought for one horror moment Wilshere injured himself badly trying to get that hospital pass by the left back. Losing Wilshere again long term would have been worse than a loss to Reading i'll tell you that, and i hope Wenger rags Gibbs' earhole for that clanger.

ON to the next game and another must win as Spurs go tan easy run ahead of them also ,and we need to keep track.

This was the first time last night that Walcott played as a central striker.

Should Arsene Wenger based on this evidence use him in this position on a more regular basis?

it was just one match so i dont think Walcott has nailed the role down , he did pretty well though and i asume Wenger will play him agains in that position ..so it is up to him tp back up his claim with goals and good performances