Cazorla hat-trick seals win against Reading

Arsenal bounced back from their League Cup exit in some style as they featured in another entertaining match with Reading at the Majeski Stadium. The Gunners were rampant and were quite brilliant going forward as Cazorla grabbed a hat-trick whilst Podolski and Walcott, who was playing upfront scored one each. The defence was overall very solid throughout the night however a few sloppy passes lead to the two Reading goals and made us think that we were going to throw it all away. Luckily that wasn't the case though as Arsenal were more or less at full strength as Walcott started upfront with Podolski and Oxlade-Chamberlain either side of him whilst Gervinho and Giroud were both on the bench.

Santi Cazorla scored his first hat-trick in English football

 The first chance came in the first minute as Arsenal broke away with Oxlade-Chamberlain who played a one-two with Cazorla before letting fly from outside the box. The shot was saved well by  Federici though.

The next chance came from a free-kick as Walcott hit a shot from far out but the ball bounced wide of the goal.

Reading then had a great opportunity to take the lead as Pogrebnyak got down the right hand side and then cut the ball back to McAnuff but he placed his effort wide of Szczesny and the ball hit Pogrebnyak who was standing in an offside position.

The hosts were now finding their feat in the match and their next effort came from a corner as Shorey's delivery found Hunt but he headed over.

However it was the visitors who took the lead as Kieran Gibbs managed to get down the left flank and pick out Podolski who took a touch before finding the back of the net from close range.

With 20 minutes played Theo Walcott had a great chance to show why he should be playing as a striker as the ball was played over the top into him but Federici came out and saved well.

Just after the half hour mark Arsenal found themselves two goals in front. Podolski delivered from the left hand side and picked out Cazorla who found the net with a diving header.

Shortly after, the Gunners were 3-0 up. Walcott's cross found Gibbs at the back post who then knocked the ball into Cazorla who was allowed to turn and bury his shot beyond Federici.

Moments before the break Arsenal could've been 4-0 up as Sagna's cross found the head of Oxlade-Chamberlain but Federici sprung across his goal to make a brilliant save.

The score at half time was 3-0 to Arsenal.

With the first chance of the second half Walcott almost added a fourth. Jack Wilshere was allowed to run through the middle of the pitch and then slip the ball through to Walcott but his shot was cleared off the line by Mariappa.

Theo Walcott then had another chance as he turned outside the box but curled his shot just wide.

On the hour mark Arsenal did indeed find themselves a fourth. Jack Wilshere fed Podolski on the left who then slid the ball across goal for Cazorla to tap the ball home for his first hat-trick in Arsenal colours.

Five minutes later Reading finally scored. Kieran Gibbs' misplaced pass found Tabb who got past Wilshere before feeding Le Fondre who rounded Szczesny and tapped the ball into an empty net.

The hosts then grabbed another goal as Robson-Kanu did brilliantly to beat 2 or 3 Arsenal players before finding Kebe who fired past Szczesny for 2-4.

However the Gunners got themselves a fifth and sealed all three points as Cazorla found Walcott who got past a Reading man before slotting the ball into the corner of the net with his left foot.

The final score finished Reading 2-5 Arsenal

The teams lineups:

Reading: Federici, Cummings, Gorkss, Mariappa, Shorey, Leigtertwood, Tabb, Kebe(72), McAnuff, Hunt(61), Pogrebnyak(61).
Subs: Taylor, Gunter, Harte, Pearce, McCleary(72), Robson-Kanu(61), Le Fondre(61).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla(82), Oxlade-Chamberlain(74), Walcott(85), Podolski.
Subs: Mannone, Koscielny, Coquelin(82), Ramsey(74), Rosicky, Gervinho, Giroud(85).

My man of the match: Santi Cazorla

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 24,125