Arsenal 2 – 0 Reading: Resting Royals Rumbled
Add comment April 20th, 2008
A comfortable victory for Arsenal, and one that could (and arguably should) have been by a greater margin. In fact, had we still been in the title race, we probably could’ve made up the +20 goal difference deficit against Manchester United in this game alone.
As it was, any kind of win was welcome – we hadn’t picked up a victory at the Emirates since beating Blackburn in February. Reading almost conceded defeat before kick-off, making six changes and resting key players ahead of their critical relegation battle. Arsenal, meanwhile, brought in Theo Walcott for Emmanuel Eboue, whilst Alex Song continued at centre-back alongside William Gallas.
Walcott had another good game, and his attacking instincts meant that our 4-4-2 became a fluid 4-3-3 at times, with Hleb tucking in alongside Gilberto and Fabregas, and Walcott joining up and rotating with Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor. The vulnerable Reading defence couldn’t handle it, and Adebayor and Song had both spurned good headed chances before the Togolese striker netted his 27th goal of the season. Kolo Toure, playing at right-back, made a strong attacking run and clipped a lovely ball into the big man, who took it down and slid the ball past Hahnemann.
Within minutes it was two, and Brazilian midfielder Gilberto had his first of a troubled season – a deflected strike from range.
After his goal, the entire team ran over to embrace the veteran, and the fans rose as one to celebrate the efforts of a player who has served us remarkably well during his spell at the club. I’d love him to stay for next season – he adds depth in a pivotal area of the field. But let’s not forget: this is a man who is still a mainstay of the Brazil International side. Can he afford to sit around on the bench whilst his rivals play regular Champions League football? Somehow, I suspect not. I’ll miss him when he departs.
It looked for all the world like we’d prised the flood-gates well and truly open, but sadly it never quite happened. In the second half, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott struck the woodwork, whilst the outstanding Cesc Fabregas had a shot cleared off the line. As I intimated at the start of this piece, if we’d needed the goals we would probably have got them, but in the strangely subdued, friendly-esque atmosphere we never really felt the need to rub salt into Reading’s grievous wounds.
The one black spot was the fact that Aleksandr Hleb is likely to receive a three match ban for slapping Reading full-back Murty in the face. That means we might not see Hleb again this season. Which means our line-ups for our remaining three games could be Eboue-tastic once more.
One man we will see play before the season is out is Lukasz Fabianski. The Pole will deputise for Manuel Almunia next season, and will play his first Premier League game before May is out.
There were plenty of positives yesterday. Theo Walcott is beginning to look like he could be a genuine threat next season, whilst Alex Song is developing into a handy squad player. Cesc Fabregas (who is staying) was in imperious form, whilst Van Persie is showing signs of hitting the heights we all know he is capable of (just in time for the end of the season. And the European Championships, where he will presumably break both legs in some kind of horrific tiddlywinks accident).
Hopefully between now and the end of the season, we can rack up a few more wins like this one.
