deeeeeeelightful nice to see Arsenal win!

i thought all in all we played really well today, other than the copious amount of missed chances
RVP motm for me, he did everything but score and played so well, made some great passes and gave some wonderful balls in!

Any reason Duberry came on, Floody and not Doyle? I didn't watch the game closely but what purpose did that serve at 2 - 0 down?

lol You have a one track mind in regards to tat bloke, Fabregas was clearly player of the day IMO.

i know, but i genuinely thought he was great today. Cesc had motm on sky

I think it was to save Sonks from getting another yellow card, we were defending at that point with two centre backs on yellow cards, and Sonko has a reputation that proceeds him this season as being a little clumsy. He did well actually coming on, goal line clearance and a great run to the near post from a corner in the latter stages.

All in all, it was as i expected it to be. We rode our luck for the most part and could have been hammered in terms of the scoreline, but with a completely new system and a much changed lineup I was moderately pleased. We dominated the most part of the opening twenty minutes, just couldn't fashion any meaningful chances as Convey was wasteful and on his debut Kebe never really got going. Both goals could have so easily been avoided, had someone just brought down Walcott as he came steaming down the right flank it may have been avoided and if Cisse had closed down Gilberto quicker the shot would not have been able to get away, had it not come off of Bikey i think it was an easy save for Hahnemann. But if my Auntie had [beep!] she would be my Uncle. Truthfully yes the amount of chances Arsenal had we could have been buried today but i always anticipated that today. Bikey played well and defended well and looked to get forward when he could, Rosenior made a few key interventions and used his speed to good effect at times, Hahnemann made a few good fingertip saves as usual and was agonizingly close to tipping away Gilberto's deflected effort. Harper did nothing as per usual, Cisse again looked a little out of his depth in that Midfield and i still can't believe Fae isn't getting a game. When Fae came on we looked more purposeful with him holding the ball up and when Marek entered we began to play well again, and a little more composure from the rather wasteful Convey could of easily seen us get one in reply. Hleb lucky to escape a red in my opinion, had Walton seen it.

I'm happy about the performance we had today. We played well in all aspects, from the back to the front, we played well. The game could have easily ended 4-0 or so. So many lost chances and close calls.

Van Persie was getting abused out there. Reading were taking a kick at him every chance they got. He's still not there and way out of form when it comes to putting a shot on goal. His free kick that went off the crossbar and then off the post was a brilliant kick, just an inch off. His crossing however was top notch today. His crosses from both sides of the box were usually dead on, and his play with Fabregas on the corners were amazing. Some very good ideas and interaction between the two on corners.

Walcott played well. He was causing trouble all over the pitch for Reading. It was nice to see him floating from the wing to the middle. He was also making some great runs, and nice plays with Adebayor to get around defenders and straight to the byline to pull the ball back for a runner through the box. There was also quality in his crosses and pull backs which goes to show his progress from just a couple months ago. He had the one chance on goal that went off the crossbar. Unlucky for him.

It was good to see Gilberto get a goal. He's getting his games in now and he's getting better and better. If we don't resign Flamini, I can see Gilberto staying and possibly being the captain next year. If Flamini resigns, he's gone.

Fabregas was the man of the match for me. He played well in every aspects. He was controlling the middle and was being very creative in his play. He almost had a goal when it was cleared off the line by a Reading defender. And again, his play with Van Persie on corners were great.

It was also good to see Denilson back in the side, and he got into the game getting in a couple shots and some good play.

Hleb played terribly today. He just wasn't in the game at all. A bit shocked he didn't get a booking for the little slap.

And Bendtner was terrible, never really got into the game and when he got the ball, he didn't make the right decisions and couldn't get the ball to people running through empty spaces on the pitch.

There was a goal for Arsenal that was wiped out by an offsides call. Definitely the wrong call because RVP was not offsides. Lucky for us, a bad call didn't burn us this time.

In the end, I'm happy with the result and the way we played. We were never really threatened and it was quite comfortable.

A few hard tackles in is getting "abuse"? Do me a favour.

It was more than a couple in the second half. Every couple minutes I saw RVP on the ground.

Bikey is an animal

That time where he won the ball and turned to pump it up, then van Persie tried to dispossess him but just bounced off was hilarious!

Ohhhh, soo close

He's an absolute tank. Defended well today i thought, only player who looked pumped up for him. He's still a little raw and rough around the edges but he has the potential to be moulded into a great Defender.

A little slap? Off the ball slap is assault? Straight red raising hands?

Have Stevie Coppello's boys slipped into the relegation places?

4th bottom

Uh no

sst... g man.. they're trying to cover it you know..

i was about to open my snack package when i noticed the reading line-up and i said 'shiet' so instant that my lil bro thought i had an expired one.. well.. the formation's five-four-one..

i remembered reading once had a very close chance and too bad they didn't make it..

walcott had a decent performance and i really hope capello's sitting somewhere around the stadium to notice it.. this guy's so gorgeous.. i mean.. each time he plays well.. he looks gorgeous.. and.. at least he hadn't done anything harmful that deserved a curse..

and what hleb's trying to do there?.. must be some contagious syndrome in the team's spreading and now striking him.. and they way they yelled at bendtner.. i'd cry to see my team with this issue..

How strong was the side Arsenal sent out?

Lehman
Toure - Song - Gallas - Clichy
Walcott - Fabregas - Gilberto - Hleb
Adebayor - Van Persie

Subbed on:
Toure -> Eboue
Hleb -> Denilson
Adebayor -> Bendtner

The game was very easy and comfortable.

First-team other than Walcott then really. I was just wondering what team Wenger would select and whether he'd use this time to test his fringe players or to chase 2nd place.

And Song.

Wenger also stated that he might play Fabianski. So I could see him playing next week against Derby. And then Almunia or Lehmann back for Everton.