Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.
90
REMINDER: Stay tuned in for our Fans' Forum which starts NOW! Tweet #FansForum to get involved
Full Time FULL TIME: Reading 2-5 Arsenal
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CLOSE AGAIN: Giroud races through, but Federici does well to block his lobbed effort away from goal
90
PERFECT POLDI: Cazorla will rightly take the plaudits tonight, but Podolski has also been excellent
90
CHANCE: Podolski sends a low cross in that Giroud can't quite turn goalwards
90
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO SEE THE ARSENAL WIN AWAY: The traveling supporters are cheerfully singing. They are well on course to win on the road in the league for the first time in over two months
Top Comments:
@dabossDB on Twitter says:
I've said it all along Theo Walcott is our new Henry finally Wenger plays him through the middle and he delivers
87
OLE: The Arsenal fans are cheering every pass. Their team have been excellent for large periods of this game
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Arsenal have been under some scrutiny, some criticism, but has it been fair? They are through in the Champions League and up to fifth in the league -- and could be attacking third or fourth after the final whistle on Saturday. Arsenal still have a positive future in their own hands should they try to take it.
85
Substitution HERE COMES GIROUD: Walcott is the man to make way
Top Comments:
@marksyspeaks on Twitter says:
Very much enjoyed that little moment between Theo and AW
82
Substitution STANDING OVATION FOR SANTI: Cazorla has been exceptional tonight. He goes off and is replaced by Coquelin
Top Comments:
@MishalDattani on Twitter says:
We love a good 5-2 scoreline don't we?! Been Cazorla's evening in all fairness. Deserves that ovation.
82
IT'S NEARLY SIX: Podolski blasts just wide
Top Comments:
@GunnerMelb on Twitter says:
Podolski trying his best to kill someone in row B
80
GOAL! - Theo Walcott 2 : 5 GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Cazorla frees Walcott, who cuts inside the defender and curls home past Federici
Top Comments:
@joshhall19 on Twitter says:
Theo Walcott is an arsenal legend in the making !!!
79
QUIET PERIOD: Arsenal are keeping the ball much better now. They've managed to quieten down the Madejski Crowd, who had become quite voiciferous after that second goal
77
#RFCvAFC: Let us know your thoughts on the game
74
Substitution HERE COMES RAMSEY: The Welsh international replaces Oxlade-Chamberlain
73
GOOD SAVE: Cazorla hits a shot that Federici has to fist away from danger
72
Substitution SUBSTITUTION: Reading make their final change, introducing McCleary for Kebe
72
Yellow Card BOOKING: Wilshere clatters Gorkss and is cautioned
71
NOT AGAIN SURELY: It was Arsenal that came back from four down last time out. Can Reading do the same?
Top Comments:
@melmartin000 on Twitter says:
Well was a bit of luck for Reading seen as their only 2 shots on target happened to go in.
71
GOAL! - Jimmy Kebe 2 : 4 GOAL FOR READING: Kebe slides home
70
TUNE IN AT FULL TIME: We have a shortened Fans' Forum straight after the conclusion of today's game. Make sure you listen in
66
GOAL! - Adam Le Fondre 1 : 4 GOAL FOR READING: Le Fondre pulls one back, rounding Szczesny and tapping home
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Reading gets one back and that changes the game slightly. Arsene Wenger will be looking for his side to put the game away in a professional manner.
63
ARSENAL ARE RAMPANT: Another swift counter ends with Federici beating Walcott's powerful drive away
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
You hope this is a season changing game for Arsenal. We have seen a confidence and a vim that we haven't seen yet this season.
61
Substitution READING SUB: Robson-Kanu is on for Hunt
61
Substitution READING SUB: Brian McDermott decides to re-shuffle his pack and introduces Le Fondre for Pogrebnyak
60
HAT-TRICK HERO: A sweeping Arsenal move ends with Wilshere finding Podolski. The German got to the byline before picking out Cazorla, who tapped home. Simplistically excellent
60
GOAL! - Santi Cazorla 0 : 4 GOAL FOR ARSENAL! What a terrific team goal that is
58
MORE PRESSURE: Mertesacker's volley from Walcott's header is blocked wide by Gorkss
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
I can't deal with this game anymore! when you have Santi Cazorla with a header and Per Mertesacker with a volley?
57
SUPER SANTI: A sublime piece of skill gets him away from the Reading defence, but he is eventually crowded out. The Spaniard has been at his best tonight
56
CLOSE AGAIN: Walcott is afforded too much space just outside the area and caresses a shot just wide
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Theo did well there. it was a striker's instinct, although the technique was off.
55
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Go to www.arsenal.com/studio to get in touch with Dan and Richard - they are fielding your comments throughout the game
51
SO CLOSE: Wilshere sets Walcott free and he arrows a shot across Federici. It's going in before Mariappa fantastically gets across to slide the ball off the line and away to safety
Top Comments:
Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
No real cohesive attack for Reading. They've had little to offer going forward – and have been poor at the back.
@Franck_le_Saint on Twitter says:
Wilshere has such an accelerating power, and such a ball control while speeding... Love that guy.
49
NO COMPLACENCY: It's important Wenger's team don't think the game is won. They were three goals down at the break themselves the last time these sides met, and we all remember what happened that night...
46
GOOD START: Oxlade-Chamberlain has looked sharp all evening. He runs at the defence before firing a shot off target from 20 yards
Top Comments:
@z00here on Twitter says:
The Ox has been borderline deadly tonight. Finishing just needs to get a little more clinical.
46
BIG 45 MINUTES AHEAD: After a stellar first-half performance, Arsenal will be keen to ensure they leave Madejski Stadium with three points
Top Comments:
@rimerc on Twitter says:
Let's score more goals, its going to be needed at the end.
Kick Off WE'RE OFF: Reading get the second period underway
45
THE TEAMS ARE BACK OUT AND WE ARE MOMENTS AWAY FROM KICK OFF
45
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tweet us using the hashtag #RFCvAFC
Top Comments:
@MarkWedlake on Twitter says:
Good to see Arsenal playing well at last. Very high tempo. Why can't they do it more often?
Half Time HALF TIME: Reading 0-3 Arsenal
Top Comments:
@leonkeertan on Twitter says:
Hope we don't take our foot off the gas, goals breed confidence. Santi n Jack - outstanding!
45
ONE MINUTE OF STOPPAGE TIME TO BE ADDED: Arsenal won't want the whistle to come. They've been excellent in the opening period
Top Comments:
@KKennardi on Twitter says:
Haven't seen Arsenal been this dominant in a while, Wilshere and Cazorla are absolutely world class
44
GREAT SAVE: Sagna's cross is met by Oxlade-Chamberlain and his header is very well kept out by Federici
43
IRONIC CHEERS: Reading's fans are greeting every successful pass with a cheer
42
THE HOME FAITHFUL ARE UNHAPPY: Their team have been thoroughly outclassed in the first 42 minutes
41
SEXY FOOTBALL: Cazorla and Podolski link up delightfully and the latter is unlucky to see his shot blocked to safety. It would have been a fantastic goal
Top Comments:
@KirkLokez on Twitter says:
Have to say Walcott is doing a wonderful job uptop. Not on a hat-trick but is pulling the strings with movement
39
... AND HE'S BACK ON: Hopefully there was no serious damage sustained in the tackle
Top Comments:
@elusiveadam on Twitter says:
Jack Wiltshire is like a new signing. I swear so underated
39
BACK TO HIS FEET: Wilshere hobbles off to receive treatment
39
Yellow Card IN THE BOOK: McAnuff tangles with Wilshere and is shown a yellow card. Worryingly for Arsenal, the England international is still down
35
GIBBS MADE IT: Walcott's cross from the right found the defender. He put the ball back into the box and Cazorla took a touch before rifling home
Top Comments:
@dahiruyd on Twitter says:
Arteta-Cazorla-Wilshere's partnership is one of the best.
35
GOAL! - Santi Cazorla 0 : 3 GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Cazorla scores again
Top Comments:
@adilraza1983 on Twitter says:
Won't get carried away,we all know what happened the last time a team went 4 up at the Madejski!
32
IT WAS ALL TOO EASY: Cazorla was found in acres of space just six yards out. He couldn't miss
32
GOAL! - Santi Cazorla 0 : 2 GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Podolski races down the left before crossing for Cazorla, who heads home
29
QUICK ON THE BREAK: Arsenal look really dangerous on the counter. Walcott and Cazorla combine before the Spaniard drills a ball across the area. Unluckily for him, it doesn't find an Arsenal shirt
28
SUPBER DEFENDING: Pogrebnyak springs the offside trap and his cross looks destined to find Hunt. Luckily for Arsenal, Vermaelen races back to slide away
Top Comments:
Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
Terrific play from the captain there stopped what chould have been a sure goal
27
UNLUCKY WILSHERE: Reading fail to clear and the England international sees his shot from inside the area palmed wide by Federici
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
What is impressing me so far is the central midfield, particularly Wilshere and Cazorla. The Spaniard is directing play while letting the ball do the work. Clever.
25
LOUD AND PROUD: The Arsenal fans are in great voice here, roaring their team on
21
WHAT A CHANCE: Cazorla slips in Walcott. He stries clear of the Reading defence but sees his effort well saved by Federici
Top Comments:
@ZadeLunat on Twitter says:
May have been a poor finish from Walcott but his runs through the middle are so clever
20
IT'S ALL ARSENAL: Cazorla's sumptuous pass finds Gibbs before Podolski eventually shoots wide
18
OOOH: Cazorla cuts inside Leigertwood and fizzes a shot that goes narrowly wide of Federici's goal
18
IMPRESSIVE STUFF: Arsenal have looked comfortable for the most part and are having almost all the play
Top Comments:
@krayzeekris on Twitter says:
Great solid defensive line there playing 3 Reading players offside. Tony Adams and Steve Bould are proud with that one
14
IT WAS A WELL-WORKED GOAL: Gibbs bombed down the left before sending in a cross that the German international controlled before emphatically volleying home
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
He hasn't played there often this year, but that was a clinical finish – a striker's finish – from a player who has a good record of scoring in the Bundesliga and for Germany
14
GOAL! - Lukas Podolski 0 : 1 GOAL FOR ARSENAL! It's Podolski!
Top Comments:
@mjflatt on Twitter says:
woohoo! good take by Podolski, Reading were asleep though.Should kick on now and win comfortably
13
BRIGHT LINK-UP PLAY: Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain combine well, but the latter's touch lets him down just outside the area
11
ALERT DEFENDING: Hunt and Pogrebnyak have looked sharp, with the former heading just over from a Shorey corner
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
That's exactly where Giroud would have been standing if he were in the line-up
8
END-TO-END STUFF: Hunt miscues after Pogrebnyak had bustled his way to the byline. Then, at the other end, Podolski has a fierce effort blocked
7
CLOSE: Walcott bends a free kick goalwards from 25 yards. It curls just a yard wide of Federici's post
5
ENCOURAGING OPENING: Wenger's team have forced a corner and are starting to dictate play
Top Comments:
Richard Clarke on Arsenal Player says:
Early Arsenal pressure getting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the ball. He came out with a certain swagger against Bradford and he has the same look tonight
2
GREAT START: Oxlade-Chamberlain breaks before exchanging passes with Cazorla and forcing a good low save from Federici
1
WALCOTT HAS STARTED UP FRONT: He's lining up with Podolski and )xlade-Chamberlain on either side of him
Top Comments:
@addavies29 on Twitter says:
Walcott though middle. Instantly looking more direct!
Kick Off AND WE'RE OFF: Cazorla and Arteta get the ball rolling
HERE THEY COME: The teams are out here. We are less than five minutes from kick off
THE AWAY END IS FILLING: The Arsenal fans are in fine voice at Madejski Stadium. Wenger's team will of course be aiming to build on the 2-0 win over West Brom last time out
GET INVOLVED ON TWITTER: Our dedicated hashtag for the game is #RFCvAFC. Let us know your thoughts, and we will publish some of them right here
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Go to www.arsenal.com/studio to get in touch with Dan and Richard - they'll be fielding your comments throughout the game
Top Comments:
Stephen Hughes on Arsenal Player says:
I think it will be close. I'm going to go with 2-1 to Arsenal.
@DanSmith1992 on Twitter says:
Got a really good feeling about tonight! So much pace in that top 3 and our midfield trio surely should be too much
JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES AWAY: Both teams are heading back to their respective dressing rooms after finishing the pre-match warm-up
READING SUBS: Taylor, Harte, Pearce, Gunter, Robson-Kanu, McCleary, Le Fondre
READING TEAM: Federici, Shorey, Mariappa, Gorkss, Cummings, Leigertwood, Tabb, Kebe, McAnuff, Hunt, Pogrebnyak
Top Comments:
Stephen Hughes on Arsenal Player says:
Reading are not in good form. But for me that makes them dangerous. They are going to be very up for it tonight and well-drilled. They've got nothing to lose so they are a dangerous entity.
@AFCDADDEO on Twitter says:
Worries me Readings cross ratio, especially with Podolski in the side. Hope we don't get outnumbered left side
TEAM NEWS: So, Theo Walcott is fit again after recovering from a calf problem. He was Arsenal's hero last time the two sides met, scoring a hat-trick
Top Comments:
Stephen Hughes on Arsenal Player says:
I'm delighted to see Theo Walcott back in the line-up. He's missed the last few games and we have really missed his pace. I'd like to see Theo in the middle at one point, but I think the Boss will go for Podolski there. It's where he wants to play and this is a great opportunity for him.
ARSENAL SUBS: Mannone, Koscielny, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Gervinho, Giroud
ARSENAL TEAM: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Podolski
Top Comments:
@ami_xvi on Twitter says:
So happy with the line up! Got a good feeling about this...
E-MAIL OUR COMMENTATORS: Go to www.arsenal.com/studio to get in touch with Dan and Richard - they'll be fielding your comments throughout the game
Kick off tonight is at 8pm, with Dan Roebuck and Richard Clarke as your commentary team. But don't forget to tune in to our MatchDay show, which starts at 7.30pm. Richard Fleming is joined by former Gunner Stephen Hughes in the studio.
What are your memories of that game? Were you there? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting #RFCvAFC
Arsene Wenger's team are of course no strangers to Reading. The two teams met in October's unforgettable Capital One Cup game, which Arsenal eventually won 7-5
Top Comments:
Stephen Hughes on Arsenal Player says:
I'm sure the Boss will be hoping for a clean sheet tonight because we have been giving up too many goals lately.
Hello and welcome to our coverage of Arsenal's crucial Premier League clash against Reading at Madejski Stadium
Reading
01 FEDERICI, Adam
24 CUMMINGS, Shaun
03 SHOREY, Nicky
21 GORKSS, Kaspars
06 MARIAPPA, Adrian
08 LEIGERTWOOD, Mikele
16 TABB, Jay
14 KEBE, Jimmy
12 MCCLEARY, Garath (72)
11 MCANUFF, Jobi
10 HUNT, Noel
19 ROBSON-KANU, Hal (61)
07 POGREBNYAK, Pavel
09 LE FONDRE, Adam (61)
41 TAYLOR, STUART
02 GUNTER, CHRIS
23 HARTE, IAN
05 PEARCE, ALEX
12 MCCLEARY, GARATH
19 ROBSON-KANU, HAL
09 LE FONDRE, ADAM
Arsenal
01 SZCZESNY, Wojciech
03 SAGNA, Bacary
04 MERTESACKER, Per
05 VERMAELEN, Thomas
28 GIBBS, Kieran
08 ARTETA, Mikel
10 WILSHERE, Jack
19 CAZORLA, Santi
22 COQUELIN, Francis (82)
15 OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN, Alex
16 RAMSEY, Aaron (74)
14 WALCOTT, Theo
12 GIROUD, Olivier (85)
09 PODOLSKI, Lukas
24 MANNONE, VITO
06 KOSCIELNY, LAURENT
22 COQUELIN, FRANCIS
16 RAMSEY, AARON
07 ROSICKY, TOMAS
27 GERVINHO,
12 GIROUD, OLIVIER
Top Comments:
@danieljamespw on Twitter says:
Needed a win today so great result! It's a shame we conceded the 2 goals though, would of been good to keep a clean sheet!
@TheVerite on Twitter says:
Star of the show : Carzola! The 3rd spanish man to score a hat trick in Premier League!