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  • Henry (1), Hleb (39), van Persie (50), Henry (70 pen)
  • Date:2006-10-22
  • Kick-off:16:00
  • Venue:Madejski Stadium
  • Attendance:24004
  • Referee:Wiley, A

Live Commentary

90mins

FULL TIME: READING 0-4 ARSENAL: Arsenal finish the game as they started it, on top, an Henry double, inculding a 58 second opener meant that the Gunners were able to cruise past Reading and earn 3 comfortable points.

90mins

Arsenal have appeared to settle back and accept this 4-0 scoreline

88mins

Little has another chance to get that consolation goal but he chips it over the bar

85mins

Little plays the ball too long and it goes out of play, it seems that everyone just wants the whistle to go as an irresistable Arsenal have complete dominance

82mins

Reading attempt to rouse the crowd with some late pressure, but it all ends with the same result as Arsenal have a goal kick

80mins

The crowd are understandibly subdued and Arsenal are stroking the ball around with ease

76mins

Ki-Hyeon soul comes off for Reading as Oster comes on, whilst Arsenal have Rosicky comming off and song comes on

76mins

Reading haven't given up completly but the ease with which Arsenal have on this game is huge

72mins

Shaun Long comes off as Glen Little replaces him

72mins

Adebayor and Walcott come on for Van Persie and Hleb

70mins

READING 0-4 ARSENAL (HENRY): After the keeper brought down Fabregas, Henry stepped up to slot home the penalty and make it two for the Frenchman on the night

68mins

Toure is back up and seems to be 'running off the injury'

67mins

Toure seems to have strained his back and is currently down injured

64mins

Reading have a dangerous counter-attack, but a pointless backheel that went wrong means that the chance is wasted

61mins

Hunt wastes a good chance after a good Reading move and hits the ball high over the bar

59mins

Hleb is given a warning by the ref and he must watch his step from now on

56mins

Doyle is unlucky to get a corner from the officials, but it sums up how this game is going for Reading

53mins

Doyle has a great headed chance that goes just wide from a corner, in the resulting counter-attack, Rosicky hits high with his shot

52mins

Reading are certainly on the back foot now and have the biggest mountain to climb as Arsenal are playing very flowing football

50mins

READING 0-3 ARSENAL (VAN PERSIE): A great passing move by the Gunners in which Hleb then passes to Van Persie and he eases the ball home to make it 3-0

45mins

de la Cruz is replaced by Gunnarsson as Reading make a tatical change

45mins

The game restarts as Reading look for a much improved performance

45mins

HALF TIME: READING 0-2 ARSENAL: The whistle blows as Arsenal take control of this game after an early Henry shot and a Hleb strike, Reading haven't been able to create many good chances and will look to improve in the second half

44mins

Reading look like a side that need the half-time whistle to regroup and attempt to get back in this game

42mins

Each Reading attack seem to result in a dangerous Arsenal counter-attack

39mins

READING 0-2 ARSENAL (HLEB): After a good passing move from Arsenal, Rosicky finds Hleb, and he then rifles home the shot into the roof of the net to put Arsenal way ahead in this game

38mins

Van Persie, after a very long run-up, put a good positioned free-kick very high over the bar much to the delight of the Reading fans

36mins

Henry's goal has been timed at 58 seconds, which, in turn has meant that the Gunners have had alot of control in this match

33mins

Lehmann becomes victim of the wet ball as he spills the ball whilst collecting from a corner, but luckily for him, he regains the ball

31mins

Both teams are passing the ball around well, but unlike Arsenal, Reading can't quite create the chances

28mins

Hoyte, after recieving a ball through from Rosicky, puts a good chance wide

26mins

Van Persie shows good skill but then that skill deserts him as his shot/cross goes out high and wide for a goal-kick

25mins

Gilberto and Long tussle for the ball and a corner goes to Reading, which, results in Lehmann producing a top drawer save

22mins

Gallas finds himself upfront and tries to slip the ball past the keeper, but Marcus Hahnemann is equal to him

18mins

Johan Djourou tries to look innocent as he commits a foul, but the resulting free-kick doesn't materalise into anything

17mins

Sustained reading pressure around the Gunners box comes to nothing as Arsenal gain possession

14mins

Long is caught offside and Arsenal have a good grip on this game so far as Reading can't quite seem to find that final ball

11mins

Arsenal break with 4 against 2, but Van Persie wastes the chance and hits it wide.

10mins

Johan Djourou shows good skill under pressure and clears a Reading chance for a corner, which, is easily clearedJohan Djourou shows good skill under pressure and clears a Reading chance for a corner, which, is easily cleared

9mins

Henry tries to take advantage of a slick surface but his shot skids wide

6mins

Hunt is unable to collect a through ball and the ball goes out of play as Reading look to get a stronghold back in the game

3mins

Van Persie is caught offside as Arsenal already look comfortable in this game

1mins

READING 0-1 ARSENAL (HENRY): Cesc Fabregas crosses the ball in and Henry slots the ball home from 16 yards to give Arsenal the best possible start.

0mins

Referee Alan Wiley gets the game underway as both teams look for a positive start

0mins

The Gunners travel to Reading with: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Gallas, Rosicky, Fabregas, Silva, Hleb, Van Persie, Henry

0mins

Reading host Arsenal with the Royals looking for a top Premiership scalp, they line up with: Hahnemann, De la Cruz, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Ki-Hyeon, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Long, Doyle

Match Preview

Reading will be glad to put their problems to one side and get back to matters on the pitch as Arsenal visit the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

The Royals have spent the past seven days defending the conduct of their players in face of severe criticism from Chelsea – and in particular manager Jose Mourinho – after last weekend's contentious meeting.

Chelsea finished the games with both of their goalkeepers in hospital following challenges by Stephen Hunt and Ibrahima Sonko and the recriminations have been flying ever since.

But despite going down 1-0 to the champions, Reading have enjoyed something of a fairytale start to life in the Premiership and Steve Coppell's side currently find themselves in eighth position.

However, September's manager of the month will be without injured skipper Graeme Murty whose hamstring strain is likely to see him sidelined for another three weeks.

Dave Kitson is also still "weeks away" from a return after damaging knee ligaments on the opening day of the season.

Arsenal will be determined to return to winning ways after their disappointing European defeat in midweek.

The Gunners left an inhospitable Moscow on Tuesday night blaming poor refereeing decisions and an appalling pitch after going down 1-0 to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

On the domestic front, Arsene Wenger's side appear to be back to their best as they are currently riding the crest of a four-match winning run.

Last month's last-gasp victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford has kick-started their mediocre start to the season and they are now up to fifth in the table.

Freddie Ljungberg could be fit to return after sitting out the last two games with a calf injury, while long-term absentees Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy have proved their fitness in the reserves.


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Match Report

Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry gave manager Arsene Wenger the best possible birthday present with a master class in quality football as the Gunners tore Reading apart to move to fourth place in the Premiership.

The Gunners took the lead in the first minute, added a second before half-time and the result was never in doubt after that.

Reading showed enthusiasm, commitment and hard work but the truth is that they were outclassed by a performance that was good enough for a night of European football.

Until beaten by a freak goal against Chelsea last week Reading had gone 14 months without a home defeat, but they were never given a glimpse of a possible victory by the team from north London.

Henry showed what was in store before most of the Reading team had even had a chance to touch the ball.

Tomas Rosicky shrugged off a challenge by former Arsenal youngster James Harper and squared the ball across the face of goal from the right wing. Reading's defence froze in horror as they realised Henry had the time and space to finish with clinical precision.

Despite this setback Reading battled away and Arsenal's Jens Lehmann was forced to make a magnificent save when Ki-Hyeon Seol volleyed the ball goalwards after the German had punched a corner clear.

But that was the closest Reading came throughout the entire game and six minutes before the interval Arsenal went further ahead.

Rosicky and Alex Hleb exchanged passes before Hleb slammed in the Gunners' second.

At half-time, Reading manager Steve Coppell replaced Ulises De la Cruz with Brynjar Gunnarsson at right-back, but it made little difference.

Five minutes into the second half Arsenal tore the Reading defence apart again. Henry slid the ball to Hleb, who cut inside to set up the chance for Robin van Persie to put the visitors further ahead.

Twenty minutes from time Arsenal completed their sixth successive Premiership win from the penalty spot.

Henry sent Cesc Fabregas through on goal. He tangled with Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, who pulled him down, giving Henry the chance to score from the penalty spot - although the ball hit the upright on the way in.

Arsenal had lined up in the formation they normally use for European games, flooding the midfield with five players against Reading's four, and the Berkshire side were never really able to cope with this.

They clearly missed the influence of injured skipper Graeme Murty and striker Dave Kitson.

It was a reflection of the fact that Coppell still needs to strengthen his squad and will probably be keen for the January transfer window to arrive.

Wenger, on the other hand, is seeing his youngsters mature into a superb side, who earned warm applause from a Reading crowd that acknowledged it was watching a great performance by a great team.

The Royals will be relieved that they have now faced Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in three successive home games and got them out of the way.

Their next league fixture is at Portsmouth, where they will hope to get back to winning ways.

Reading

Arsenal

Corners

102

Fouls

66

Goal attempts

317

Shots off target

27

Offsides

22

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