Arsenal crushed the hopeless relegation threatened Reading 4 1 at the Emirates on Saturday 30th March 2013. At ArsenalSupremo we give you the instant post match reaction to all the Arsenal games and here are the reactions from Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta.
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There are many Gunners out there that produce great player complications after every single Arsenal game and we are here to give them to you as soon as they are out. Player complications focus on the best parts of the players performance. Today we feature videos on Arsenal's 4 1 victory over Reading.
Match report on the game with match highlights click here
30th March 2013 By Jeff @ArsenalTrend & ArsenalSupremo
Gervinho scored one goal and set up two others and inspired Arsenal to a 4-1 demolition of struggling Reading on Saturday as the Gunners boosted their chances of qualifying for the Champions League for the 16th successive season, but ruining Nigel Adkins' return to managerial life in the Premier League. Gervinho scored the first at the Emirates Stadium and had a hand in second half goals for Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud on his first Premier League start since December. Hal Robson-Kanu pulled one back for Reading in Nigel Adkins' first match since taking over as Royals manager, but Mikel Arteta's late penalty condemned the visitors to defeat and saw them drop below Queens Park Rangers to the foot of the table.
There was even better news for Arsenal from Southampton, where Chelsea's 2-1 defeat meant the fifth placed Gunners are now just two points outside the top four. After successive victories over Bayern Munich and Swansea, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger kept faith with goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and recalled Aaron Ramsey, Bacary Sagna, Gervinho and Tomas Rosicky to his starting line-up. Adkins only made two changes from predecessor Brian McDermott's last game in charge, with Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Guthrie both included.
Line Ups
Reading had lost their last six in all competitions, but began brightly, forcing a corner that Alex Pearce nodded two yards wide of Fabianski's far post. Arsenal were content to keep possession in the opening exchanges, but came alive after a minute's applause in tribute to former midfielder David Rocastle, who died of cancer on March 31, 2001. Gervinho was the architect in the 11th minute as he turned Nicky Shorey on the right touchline and fed Giroud inside the penalty area. Pearce managed to clear but only as far as Cazorla on the edge of the box and his pinpoint cross picked out Gervinho to side-foot home. Giroud thought he should have had a penalty when he was felled in the box by Reading goalkeeper Stuart Taylor but referee Chris Foy waved away the protests.
A bursting run from Gervinho that took him from his own half into the opposition penalty area should have ended in at least a shot on target but again his finishing let him down. Reading then had a lucky escape when the ball appeared to strike Mikele Leigertwood's hand following a corner and Foy failed to award the penalty. Seven minutes before the break, Cazorla had a golden opportunity for Arsenal to score the second goal that their build-up play deserved but his left-footed strike missed by a matter of inches. Gervinho also wasted a great chance just before the break to leave Wenger frustrated on the touchline. Any concerns that Arsenal may live to rue those missed opportunities evaporated two minutes after the break. Gervinho's short pass into the feet of Cazorla gave the Spaniard time to pick his spot and he unleashed a perfect curling shot from the edge of the penalty area that left Taylor grasping at thin air.
Santi Cazorla perfect curling shot
A superbly-timed tackle from Laurent Koscielny then denied Pogrebnyak the opening to register Reading's first shot on target. Pearce managed that from the resulting corner but his volley was comfortably held by Fabianski. A simple finish from Giroud after another quick break from Gervinho made it 3-0 in the 67th minute. However, Reading continued to fight for everything and they got their reward less than 90 seconds later when Jobi McAnuff picked out Robson-Kanu to head in.
Pic Via @ArsenalRealm
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on for the final 15 minutes and the England youngster had an immediate impact. A clumsy challenge from Adrian Mariappa finally saw Chris Foy point to the spot, with Spanish midfielder Arteta slotting home. It was an all round brilliant performance from the Gunners, recording another crucial win.
Mikel Arteta celebrates his goal
The only downside of the game was when Nacho Monreal was replaced by Gibbs in the 71st minute after he collided with the post in an attempt to defend/save Reading's only goal. Arsene Wenger however, during his post match presser confirmed Monreal only suffered bruises and no not an injury. More good news from the injury front when Wenger also confirmed Theo Walcott is expected to return to the squad ahead of next game against West Bromich Albion, but Jack Wilshere still 2 weeks away. It was a day of near perfect display from Arsenal. The challenges ahead still massive, hope the lads are really up for it. What do you think of the result? Is it possible to get third place having seen the dip Chelsea are on, as they are still in 3 competitions. Free free comment below on what you think.
Lukas Podolski on the win
Deserved win today, we played well and after recovery from my injury the 20 minutes I had is all I needed, 3 more points. #GoArsenal — Lukas-Podolski.com(@Podolski10) March 30, 2013
Stats and Facts :
Arsenal have scored 16 goals against Reading this season. More than against any team in a single season in club history.
Kieran Gibbs made his 100th appearance for Arsenal after coming on as a second half substitute.
Bacary Sagna created three chances on his return to the Arsenal side - no defender made more in the Premier League on the day.
Mikel Arteta made (107) and completed (99) the most passes in the Premier League on the day and also scored a penalty.
Santi Cazorla added his fourth Premier League goal in two games vs Reading and also set one up for Gervinho.
Gervinho scored one and assisted two of Arsenal's four goals against Reading today.
Arsenal are now second in the form table only just behind leaders Manchester United after losing just once in the last 6 games and winning the rest.
Matt Le Tissier spoke about the game who was covering the match for SkySports
John Motson BBC Match of the Day commentator :
"Reading were taken apart by an Arsenal side who are running into form. Their defeat could have been heavier and new manager Nigel Adkins will have to work hard before his side take on his former club Southampton. For Arsenal, it was a comfortable victory."
Reading manager Nigel Adkins:
"I thought Arsenal were very good, they've come here and passed the ball very well. Unfortunately, we've made our own downfall on a couple of goals. We wanted to adapt a couple of changes, but any team who came here would have found it difficult today.
Arsenal fixtures in April : W.B.A. (Away) Norwich (Home) Everton (Home) Fulham (Away) Manchester United (Home) What do you make of these fixtures do you think we can get maximum points from this please leave your comments on your opinions we would love to see what you think.
Arsene Wenger saw his Arsenal side produce a fantastic display to beat relegation threatened Reading at the Emirates. He spoke to the media soon after the win and spoke of his delight of the performance. We enjoyed the game. I enjoyed our technical side, our creative side, our spirit and how disciplined and focused we were. The regret you have is that there were more goals in this game than the number of goals we scored. Overall, it's a good basis to finish the season well. Let's just keep that spirit, that attitude and play the football we want to play.
Wenger was asked whether third spot was a realistic target after seeing Chelsea lost to Southampton 2 1. "I don't know. We will see in the end. It can be very positive if you are on a good run, and very negative if you are in bad form. Let's just take care of the way we play, take care of our spirit and give it all."
Find out more in the video below what he had to say on the win , Jack Wilshere likely comeback date and the devastating news that Diaby will be out for 8 months and match highlights of the game will be up very soon!
Check out our new feature on the site we look back at the past Arsenal Legends today is the turn of Nwankwo Kanu as we look back on his career and you can now watch all of his goals for Arsenal if you want to find out more Click Here If you want a certain legend to be analysed next feel free to leave a comment below.
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As the international break is finally over and the Premier League commences tomorrow Santi Cazorla spoke ahead of the game against Reading however Santi expects it to much a much tougher game than the Swansea match.
“Swansea had already qualified for the Europa League after winning the League Cup and you might notice, with teams like that, they’re a little looser, that same pressure isn't there,” “But it can go either way. It can be beneficial or work against you. But I think, from now, every match will be very difficult.
Watch his interview below and find out what he had to say about the race for the Champions League places.
For more news and video's on Santi Cazorla Click Here
Check out our new feature on the site we look back at the past Arsenal Legends today is the turn of Nwankwo Kanu as we look back on his career and you can now watch all of his goals for Arsenal if you want to find out more Click Here If you want a certain legend to be analysed next feel free to leave a comment below.
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Nigel Adkins will take charge of Reading for the first time on Saturday afternoon, when his new team visit the Emirates Stadium to take on Champions League-chasing Arsenal. Adkins was confirmed as the successor to fired manager Brian McDermott earlier this week, and knows he faces a tough task in trying to keep Reading (5-8-17) in the Premier League. The Royals are seven points from safety with just eight games remaining, but owner Anton Zingarevich is convinced he has brought in the right manager to take the club forward.
"Nigel is the man for the job. It's an important day for us, a really important appointment. I think he has all the right criteria, in terms of his CV and what he has been able to achieve. And the attractive football that he likes to play was one of the key factors for me. It's important for a manger to play attractive football - for the fans and for everyone who is involved."
Arsenal (14-8-7) are in the hunt for the Champions League places, and go into the latest round of matches just four points behind fourth-place Tottenham with a game in hand. However, the Gunners remain without Jack Wilshere, who is being given more time to get back to match fitness. "Wilshere's injury is not better or worse," admitted Wenger ahead of Saturday's game. "It was an inflammation of his (ankle) bone and we had such history with him, we are a bit more cautious than we would be with you or with me. We deferred a little bit his rehab by one week. We gave him one more week rest because it was wise medically to do it. "Honestly, it's very difficult (to predict when he will be back). I believe in two weeks on Sunday. That means not the next game; the game after. We will rest him when it is needed. He has regular scans and as soon as we have an alert, we will respect it no matter what is at stake."
These teams have played each other twice this season, with a staggering combined score of 14-7 to Arsenal over the two games. A sensational 7-5 League Cup win for the Gunners was followed up by a 5-2 win in the league, while seven different Reading players have accounted for the goals. Reading have lost five straight league games and have managed the least shots (270) and shots on target (97) of any club in the league. The Gunners have won four of their last five league games, keeping three clean sheets in that run. Arsenal have won all 11 meetings with Reading in their history.
Cazorla scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture
TEAM NEWS: ARSENAL : Arsenal have injury doubts over Kieran Gibbs (illness), Theo Walcott (groin) and Bacary Sagna (knee) in addition to Wilshire, and Abou Diaby will be out until next season after tearing his ACL in training on Wednesday. READING: Reading's Jason Roberts is out with a hip injury, while Danny Guthrie (knee), Adam Federici (ankle) and Jimmy Kebe (groin) are doubtful.
Arsenal are currently the second best in-form team in the Premier League behind Manchester United, that moment must continue to mount pressure on teams ahead for 'coveted' top 4 place. Reading will come fighting with renewed vigor anchored by their new coaching staff and in two previous games this season, Reading showed they can cause Arsenal problems especially in the final third, and can score goals too. Arsenal will get opportunities in front of goal, no doubt, how they take them & early on in the game, will speak volume of likely outcome tomorrow. This is a game Arsenal should win, irrespective of any threat Reading may pose, any result short of 3 points, will be a set back. Can the Gunners coast home to victory against Reading after the international break ? Leave your predictions in the comments below winning score gets a shout out on Twitter!
The two meetings between Arsenal and Reading in 2012-13 already have seen 19 goals scored Reading have conceded more Premier League goals against Arsenal (16) than any other opponent Arsenal are yet to lose a Premier League game that they have taken the lead in this season
Today Arsene Wenger faced the media ahead of the Premier League tie between the Arsenal and Reading. Below are the main topics discussed :
1. Team News Revealed
2. Jack Wilshere injury update
3. On the race for top 4
4. Wenger on weather Walcott injury was England's fault
5. Szczesny has responded well and was coy on who would start in goal.
6. On facing Nigel Atkins
Arsene Wenger talked about the importance of managing Jack Wilshere's recovery from injury. Jack Wilshere has missed the ast two games after suffering minor inflammation to his ankle and won't be fit for the Reading game.
“He had a difficult moment of course when you told him [he would be rested] because he didn’t feel any special pain. But he knows he has to take care of his future. Because he is a very young player, I think he accepts it.” Just a friendly reminder If you want more videos like this then subscribe to our site via email and get up to date with every post we post without missing a thing!
Check out our new feature on the site we look back at the past Arsenal Legends today is the turn of Nwankwo Kanu as we look back on his career and you can now watch all of his goals for Arsenal if you want to find out more Click Here If you want a certain legend to be analysed next feel free to leave a comment below.
