Emmanuel Adebayor and Gilberto Silva increased Reading's relegation fears as Arsenal cruised to victory.
Royals in danger as Gunners cruise to victory
Emmanuel Adebayor and Gilberto Silva increased Reading's relegation fears as Arsenal cruised to victory.
The Gunners may be out of the title race, but soon got into their stride and went ahead in the 30th minute when Adebayor slotted under Marcus Hahnemann after Theo Walcott and Kolo Toure combined to create the chance.
It was 2-0 soon after as Gilberto's driven effort from outside the box took a wicked deflection off the head of Andre Bikey to leave Hahnemann with no chance.
Robin van Persie struck the bar and post with a blistering second-half free-kick, Theo Walcott clipped the top of the crossbar and Cesc Fabregas had an effort brilliantly cleared off the line by Michael Duberry.
Jens Lehmann had virtually nothing to do all afternoon in the Gunners goal to leave Steve Coppell's side glancing anxiously over their shoulder after a third defeat in four games, all of which they have failed to score in.
Carved open
Arsenal started well and carved open the Reading defence when Alexander Hleb released Fabregas through the middle, but his touch was heavy and the ball rolled on into the grateful arms of Hahnemann.
The Gunners continued to press, and Van Persie's centre picked out Adebayor in the six-yard box, but the leading scorer could only plant a disappointing header wide.
The Gunners were in full flow, with Walcott again causing havoc down the right with his run to the goal-line and cut-back which was hacked clear.
Dave Kitson was shown a yellow card for tripping Hleb in a central position, five yards outside the box, in the 27th minute.
From the resulting free-kick, Van Persie flashed a curling low effort towards the bottom corner which flew just past the post, with a corner awarded although Hahnemann did not appear to get a touch.
Arsenal eventually took the lead on the half-hour when Toure floated a lovely ball over to the edge of the penalty area from the right. Adebayor collected it on his thigh, before coolly slotting low past Hahnemann for his 27th goal of the season.
And it was 2-0 just eight minutes later when Arsenal moved the ball down the left, before Fabregas cut it back to Gilberto in space on the edge of the area.
The Brazilian's 20-yard strike was on target, but it cannoned off the head of Bikey and flew past a wrong-footed Hahnemann into the top left corner.
The American was kept busy as half-time approached, again saving well at his near post to deny Van Persie and Toure.
There was, though, a let-off for the Royals keeper at the start of the second half, when Hahnemann decided to race out of his goal as Walcott chased a long through ball, only to be beaten to it by the pacey winger.
However, there was enough cover to allow the visitors' defence to eventually clear.
Wasted
At the other end, Arsenal captain William Gallas tripped Kitson out on the left. But the resulting free-kick was taken quickly and wasted - which just about summed up Reading's afternoon.
Just after the hour, in an off the ball incident not spotted by referee Peter Walton, Hleb appeared to catch Graeme Murty in the face with his open hand - which left the Royals skipper fuming.
Walcott raced clear down the right and it needed a good interception from Liam Rosenior to block the winger's low angled strike from just inside the box.
England squad man Walcott was a continued threat and he was tripped right on the edge of the area by Sonko.
From the resulting free-kick, in the 71st minute, Van Persie smashed the ball against the underside of the crossbar, then the right-hand post, but somehow it stayed out.
Moments later, Walcott saw his curling effort also come back off the bar, as Hahnemann watched.
Reading finally managed an effort on goal when Bobby Convey's drive was beaten away by Lehmann.
Arsenal, though, could have added more as Fabregas' effort was blocked on the line by substitute Duberry and another effort was ruled offside as they comfortably closed out for their 13th home Premier League win.
| Arsenal |
Team Statistics |
Reading |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 10 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 8 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 12 |
Corners |
4 |
| 8 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 5 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 87.4 |
Passing Success |
60.9 |
| 22 |
Tackles |
32 |
| 86.4 |
Tackles Success |
68.8 |
| 71.9 |
Possession |
28.1 |
| 49.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
50.2 |
|
