Cazorla and Gervinho performances inspire Arsenal win

Arsenal put in a very confident performance on Saturday as they comprehensively beat relegation threatened Reading by 4 goals to 1. It was a display which saw Cazorla run the show whilst it also gave us a chance to see Gervinho return to form. Cazorla was once more playing outwide but tended to drift inside when the chance was open to him. Meanwhile Gervinho was a man who was showing off his early season form as he scored, and then set up two of the Gunners goals. There was also a very good display from Mikel Arteta. He sprayed the ball around the park very well and he was showing Arsenal fans a display worthy of a certain 'Cesc Fabregas' when he was at the club. His long range passing was brilliant and it summed up a near perfect afternoon for Arsenal. Arsenal's complete domination can't just be put down to how good they were as Reading made life very easy and showed exactly why they're at risk of being sent straight back down to the Championship.

In terms of the line-up Wenger opted to play, there were 4 changes from the side that had beaten Swansea. Gervinho who had scored in that fixture replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain whilst Ramsey and Rosicky (starting for the first time in the League this season) came in for the injured Walcott and Diaby. Diaby's injury being more significant than Walcott's as the Frenchman will face 8-9 months out of the game after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear. The other change came at right back as Sagna came in for the in form Jenkinson.

Gervinho was a threat all afternoon as Arsenal beat Reading

The first chance of the game fell to Giroud as the ball was lifted into the area but he failed to make a good enough contact on the ball and Taylor saved easily.

It didn't take long for Arsenal to find the net though. Santi Cazorla fired the ball across goal from the left hand side which fell to the feet of Gervinho who was left with a tap in.

Arteta then gave us an example of what I talked about as he played a Cesc Fabregas esc long ball over the top into Giroud. He was then bundled over by Taylor but somehow not rewarded with a penalty.

The next chance fell to Ramsey as Rosicky played the ball through to him but his shot on goal was blocked well by the defender.

Ramsey then turned provider as he teed up Cazorla on the right who fired inches wide.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

Minutes after the break Santi Cazorla fired the Gunners into a 2-0 lead. Gervinho set the Spaniard up on the edge of the area and then he curled the ball brilliantly inside the near post.

Aaron Ramsey who had suffered from a lot of criticism earlier on in the season was now showing why Wenger had put faith in him as his long range effort was only just deflected wide.

Reading then managed to work their first opening of the half as McAnuff slipped in Pogrebnyak but Koscielny slid in to deny a probable goal.

However Reading found themselves 3 goals down within a matter of minutes of that chance. A Reading man gave the ball away and Arsenal capitalised. Sagna fed the ball out to Gervinho who broke down the right, held the ball up and then played in Giroud who fired beyond Taylor and into the back of the net.

The Gunners now couldn't afford to switch off but they did and before they knew it, Fabianski had conceded for the first time in almost 3 games. McAnuff did well to pick out a cross which caught Monreal out at the back post and allowed Robson-Kanu to steal in and head home.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had just come on as a sub, was to then win a penalty. Mariappa gave the ball away to the young winner who then raced towards him before being bundled over in the area.

Mikel Arteta took the penalty and he sent Stuart Taylor the wrong way as he found the corner of the net.

The final score finished Arsenal 4-1 Reading. 

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal(71), Rosicky, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Gervinho(75), Giroud(75). 
Subs: Szczesny, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Gibbs(71), Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain(75), Podolski(75).

Reading: Taylor, Kelly, Mariappa, Pearce, Shorey, Leigertwood, Guthrie, Karacan(76), McAnuff, Robson-Kanu(80), Pogrebnyak(61). 
Subs: McCarthy, Gunter, Morrison, Akpan(76), McCleary(80), Le Fondre, Hunt(61). 

My man of the match: Gervinho

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: 60,082