Reading 0-4 Arsenal – 14/10/06 – (Barclays Premiership) 22 October, 2006

So we got the thrashing we called for and it was a magnificent 4-0 to The Arsenal. We played brilliantly, the way football should be played and it really was a treat to watch. When we play like we did today we can beat anyone in the world and anyone who isn’t up to world standard will be sent flying. We managed to stick four past Reading but it could’ve been more; every goal was intricately worked and something that all football fans should appreciate. We played the same team we did against CSKA Moscow, the 4-5-1 with Van Persie occupying the left; but today I think it actually worked. Henry was allowed the freedom to switch with RVP and play anywhere he liked in their half. The attack worked very well and we often had a line of four attackers charging down on the Reading defence. I think it was Henry, RVP, Rosicky and Fabregas usually who worked extremely well along with every other man in red on the pitch.

I can’t think of a single player who had a bad game and the only negative I can think of from the game was Kolo Toure pulling something in his lower back and going to the floor in agony. It looked quite bad at the time but he carried on playing and hopefully it isn’t anything serious. Today was a proud day to say you’re a Gooner and I hope other fans can watch MOTD tonight and agree we played some beautiful football.

The 1st Goal came within 60 seconds and was a taster of what was to come. Fabregas had a great game after his new 8 year deal was signed this week and showed just how valuable he is to our team. It was Cesc who really made this first goal, he was fed in down the right and took it into the box near the by-line, someone tried to tackle him in the box, he could’ve gone down and possibly won a penalty or he could have let himself get tackled and let it out for a corner, but no. Cesc battled through the Reading defence, looked up and played a calm ball to Henry who was standing on the edge of the box. And the finish was just as calm and simple as the pass as Thierry side-footed the ball between the legs of a defender and into the net. 1-0 Arsenal, 1 minute gone. It was such a simple goal but it was a great one, at half time Paul Merson said it could be his goal of the season just because of the beautiful football we played to create the goal.

The 2nd Goal took another half an hour to come but was well worth the wait with some brilliant build up from Arsenal. Hleb did very well to score this and he can take all the praise for this strike. Alex received the ball outside the box, played a one-two with I think Rosicky and was one-on-one with the ‘keeper and blasted a shot into the roof of the net. It is really worth clicking on the link if you didn’t see this goal, it was a nicely worked goal with a finish to match.

We went in at half time two goals ahead and completely controlling the game. The Reading faithful must’ve been wondering what hit them and the manager must’ve been speechless. I can honestly say I think we play the best football in the world, it’s just a shame we can’t do it every game.

It only took five minutes from the break to make it 3-0. Hleb made a great run down the right wing and cut inside and played a one-two on the edge of the box with Henry just like he did for the previous goal, this time instead of going for goal he simply tapped it to Van Persie who completed the formality to take us three up. To be honest, now I think about it, RVP didn’t have an amazing game, he played alright but was nothing special. He made a few wrong decisions and was a little bit selfish in places, he didn’t have a bad game so to speak but he wasn’t at his best.

The 4th goal came in the 70th minute and it was a penalty from Titi. Henry fed Fabregas into the box and had only the goalie to beat, he side-stepped him to the left but was tripped by the ‘keeper and a penalty. It was a correct decision from the referee; there won’t be any complaints about that. So it was Thierry Henry who placed the ball on the spot and he side-footed the ball as far to the goalie’s left as it possibly could have gone. Hahnemann dived the right way but the was no stopping it as it came off the inside of the post and into the net; it really was a perfect penalty to finish off the perfect game.

It finished 4-0 to the Arsenal but could’ve been 6 or 7 really. After we lost to CSKA I said we needed a massive performance against Reading and a few goals and my call was answered. This is up there with one of the best performances I’ve seen from Arsenal and I don’t blame any Arsenal fan for dreaming of the title this season after five successive wins and that magnificent performance. I don’t know what more I can say really, just make sure you re-watch this game on match of the day tonight. Have a good evening Gooners.