Arsenal bounced back from the midweek penalty defeat in League Cup against Bradford by beating Reading away from home, 5-2, as Santi Cazorla being the main protagonist last night with his hattrick, plus one assist. Lukas Podolski finally scored a goal once again in Premier League after last scoring against Tottenham Hotspurs, while Theo Walcott, who finally played centrally as he desires, also registered his name on the scoresheet.
Santi Cazorla dribbled past a Reading player
(photos from arsenal.com, 7th picture)
Arsenal dominated the game from the start, and creating couples of chances, with Chamberlain's long shot was denied by Adam Federici. However, it was Reading who got first clear cut chances as Pavel Pogrebnyak cut inside from the right wing, and centered the ball which was awfully missed by Jobi McAnuff
Arsenal finally broke the deadlock after Kieran Gibbs penetrated from the left side and sent a beautfiul cross to Podolski, who made brilliant first touch and made no mistake to bury it to goal. Theo Walcott could've added the second few minutes after the first goal, as he beaten offside trap, but Adam Federici made an important saves to keep the scoreline. Santi Cazorla doubled the lead after receiving a delightful cross from Lukas Podolski from the left wing, and Santi did a diving header to put the ball into the bottom corner. Santi Cazorla quickly doubled his tally by scoring the third goal of the game, Theo Walcott lobbed the ball to far post, as Gibbs headed back to Cazorla, and the Spaniard controlled the ball beautifully before slammed the ball to the goal, leaving Federici no chance to deny it. First half ended, 3-0 for Arsenal.
Second half, Reading tried to pull one back, but Theo Walcott nearly added the fifth, but Mariappa made off-the-line block to deny him. Santi Cazorla made it 0-4 with a simple finish after a beautiful team goal. Chamberlain ran to the middle and passed to Wilshere outside the box, as he sent a through ball to the box to Lukas Podolski, whose low cross easily converted to goal by Santi Cazorla. Reading grab one back, after Kieran Gibbs awful pass picked by Reading player, and Wilshere slipped when he tried to chase the ball, and Adam Le Fondre rounded Szczesny to make it 1-4. Few moments later, Jimmy Kebe escaped from offside trap before beating Szczesny, 2-4. It was kind of deja vu, as Reading tried to replicate what Arsenal did to them, coming from 0-4 down to win the game, and Arsenal's defence was in the nerve for few moments, before Theo Walcott clinched it for the Gunners with the seventh goal of the game, after Santi Cazorla dribbled passed few player and sent a beautiful pass to Walcott, and he placed the ball to the left corner with his left foot, 2-5.
Theo Walcott celebrated his comeback by scoring a goal
This was the game Arsenal should've played in the recent weeks, a very fluid attacking display, the ball was flowing easily from the back to the front, with Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere bossed the midfield, while Mikel Arteta keeps the beat from the back. All of five goals from Arsenal are scored from open play, and also a good team play. Player exchanged position few times, Walcott moved to flanks few times with Podolski sneaked to the central position, or Cazorla and Wilshere moved to channels to support the flanks Chamberlain few times cut inside to create more spaces.
The players made some incisive run into the box, and look for a good spot for receiving the pass, and that's what missing from Arsenal in recent weeks. They created chances, but few willing to run into the box. In the game against Bradford, Arsenal wasn't that bad in midfield, but in the final third, they were quite toothless upfront. There wasn't any time when one player tried to beat one man - I hate to blame one player, but yes, it was Gervinho who was wasteful that time -, the ball was instead passed to team mates to open more spaces. It was the Arsenal game we used to see few years back, a beautiful passing game!
Both wings were very lively throughout 90 minutes, especially the left flank where two goals started there. Kieran Gibbs enjoyed attacking licence he got in this match, and few times he penetrated to the box, as he did to set up Cazorla's second goal. Gibbs started to enjoy the teamwork with Lukas Podolski on the flank, and linked up well with the German few times. Bacary Sagna was not as adventurous as Gibbs in attacking but his crosses were always accurate. Chamberlain could've done better with his crossing, but he is always getting into dangerous position, and wasn't scared to beat some man, without excessive effort of doing a one-man show.
The only bad thing from this match is the poor defending after the fourth goal. Under no pressure, Gibbs gave the ball cheaply and cost a goal, before another lapse in defending gave Reading the second goal, and giving another pressure to the defence, before Walcott scored the fifth. However, Arsenal had not known for the strong defence, except for the 2005-2006 season in Champions League when they won with clean sheets. In 2000s, they always scored a lot of goals, despite allowing some goals conceded. I would say this season Arsenal's defence wasn't that bad, but most of Arsenal's defeat was caused by not-so-clinical finishing, and inability to create chances. I don't think it is a problem, if you conceded three but you can score five.
The question for Wenger is whether he will trust Walcott in the central position, leaving Giroud on the bench. Walcott was more mobile and pacy than Giroud, and probably that style of play suits Arsenal more. Giroud could be an alternative for Arsenal, should the opposition able to stop Arsenal pass-and-move game. Wenger should try Walcott in central position again in next match against Wigan, and see whether this plan is working. Gervinho has been put in the central but so far he has failed to impress.
The last question for Wenger is the consistency. Arsenal need to find the consistency, if they want to challenge for the throphy, or at least the fourth place. If Arsenal continued play like this, I do believe third, or even second place is a realistic target for this season.
The players made some incisive run into the box, and look for a good spot for receiving the pass, and that's what missing from Arsenal in recent weeks. They created chances, but few willing to run into the box. In the game against Bradford, Arsenal wasn't that bad in midfield, but in the final third, they were quite toothless upfront. There wasn't any time when one player tried to beat one man - I hate to blame one player, but yes, it was Gervinho who was wasteful that time -, the ball was instead passed to team mates to open more spaces. It was the Arsenal game we used to see few years back, a beautiful passing game!
Both wings were very lively throughout 90 minutes, especially the left flank where two goals started there. Kieran Gibbs enjoyed attacking licence he got in this match, and few times he penetrated to the box, as he did to set up Cazorla's second goal. Gibbs started to enjoy the teamwork with Lukas Podolski on the flank, and linked up well with the German few times. Bacary Sagna was not as adventurous as Gibbs in attacking but his crosses were always accurate. Chamberlain could've done better with his crossing, but he is always getting into dangerous position, and wasn't scared to beat some man, without excessive effort of doing a one-man show.
The only bad thing from this match is the poor defending after the fourth goal. Under no pressure, Gibbs gave the ball cheaply and cost a goal, before another lapse in defending gave Reading the second goal, and giving another pressure to the defence, before Walcott scored the fifth. However, Arsenal had not known for the strong defence, except for the 2005-2006 season in Champions League when they won with clean sheets. In 2000s, they always scored a lot of goals, despite allowing some goals conceded. I would say this season Arsenal's defence wasn't that bad, but most of Arsenal's defeat was caused by not-so-clinical finishing, and inability to create chances. I don't think it is a problem, if you conceded three but you can score five.
The question for Wenger is whether he will trust Walcott in the central position, leaving Giroud on the bench. Walcott was more mobile and pacy than Giroud, and probably that style of play suits Arsenal more. Giroud could be an alternative for Arsenal, should the opposition able to stop Arsenal pass-and-move game. Wenger should try Walcott in central position again in next match against Wigan, and see whether this plan is working. Gervinho has been put in the central but so far he has failed to impress.
The last question for Wenger is the consistency. Arsenal need to find the consistency, if they want to challenge for the throphy, or at least the fourth place. If Arsenal continued play like this, I do believe third, or even second place is a realistic target for this season.
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