Classy Gunners ravage Reading

12 April 2012

Arsenal reinforced their claim to be genuine contenders for the Premiership trophy by dismantling top-flight newcomers Reading 4-0.

Thierry Henry, who scored twice, Alexander Hleb and Robin van Persie supplied the goals as the Gunners reigned supreme at the Madejski Stadium - the venue where both Manchester United and Chelsea had been forced to battle all the way for points.

United had needed a second-half equaliser from Cristiano Ronaldo to salvage a draw and Chelsea a heavy deflection to take the points eight days ago on a day when Jose Mourinho went on to claim every headline for his own.

Mourinho had launched an attack on Stephen Hunt for the first-minute challenge that had left goalkeeper Petr Cech with a fractured skull but the Irishman retained his place in the starting line-up for this one, having been cheered heartily before kick-off by the home support.

The first minute was once again hugely significant however as it took the slick-passing visitors just 58 seconds to take the lead.

Cesc Fabregas was the architect with a run into the box on the right that saw him easily evade the challenge of ex-Highbury trainee James Harper and lay the ball back for Henry to fire past Royals goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, who had not let in a single goal at that end since September last year.

That another would follow before the break was no surprise though as Arsenal dominated possession and the home side were able to make only occasional inroads at the other end.

In the 39th minute, when Hleb came in from the right and played a one-two with the Czech, Hahnemann was beaten again with a rising drive that was simply too hot to handle.

Reading had only occasionally created problems at the other end but Lehmann had been required in the 25th minute to tip over a pile-driver from Seol Ki-Hyeon after the German had punched a corner to where he had been lurking on the edge of the box.

It was to prove their only on-target effort of the afternoon. Arsenal managed 10 times as many.

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