Slipperduke
The Camden Cad
Arsenal returned to winning ways at a freezing cold Emirates Stadium with a convincing 2-0 victory over a Reading side who are nose-diving at the worst possible time. Only a combination of fine goalkeeping, desperate clearances and Arsenal's own profligacy prevented this from becoming a massacre. With just three games left, two of which are away from home, Steve Coppell is staring relegation in the face.
To their credit, Reading did try to take the game to their opponents in the early stages, but they were utterly outclassed. With three big, physical centre-backs, they had clearly hoped to stifle Emmanuel Adebayor, but they were absolutely torn apart on their left flank. With six changes to his team, Coppell dropped left-back Nicky Shorey all the way out of the squad and replaced him with the right-footed Liam Rosenior. Despite Coppell's later claims that Rosenior had played well, it certainly didn't look like that from where I was sitting. Kolo Toure and Theo Walcott linked up to devastating effect and savaged him, creating a series of chances including the opening goal. Shorey had publicly stated that he was unsure where his future lies, but if Coppell wanted to teach him a lesson, then it was expensive tuition.
Arsenal were magnificent. Relieved of pressure, they carried themselves with confidence and returned to the cavalier football that had delighted us all earlier this season. Instead of tentatively pinging the ball around their opponent's penalty area for ten minutes at a time, they started to probe their opponents with through-balls. In recent months they've seemed too scared to attempt anything that might result in them losing possession, but they played with renewed courage here. Cesc Fabregas, who has looked tired and drained of late, was a new man. The young Spaniard has said in the past that he prefers to make goals rather than score them and he passed the ball around to great effect here.
There have been a number of areas where Arsenal have been found wanting this season, but one of the least discussed has been their appalling habit of blasting all their corners straight at the midriff of the near-post defender. Not any more. One of the most pleasing aspects about this victory was their willingness to experiment with the short corner. Sometimes they'd play the ball back and allow Robin van Persie to swing in a cross from a better angle, sometimes they fooled everyone and released the Dutchman with a cheeky pass, enabing him to hare in on goal from a narrow angle. Reading just didn't know want to do.
Arsene Wenger acknowledged afterwards that his team can only hope to chase Chelsea for third, but if they play out the rest of the season like this, they'll have a chance. This was the London club back to their beguiling best and if they can hold their key players down, next season could be even more exciting. For Reading, the omens are less encouraging. This was their fourth game without a goal and their players' heads will be so low that they'll be in danger of tripping over them soon. They travel to Wigan next week and nothing less than a win will do.
To their credit, Reading did try to take the game to their opponents in the early stages, but they were utterly outclassed. With three big, physical centre-backs, they had clearly hoped to stifle Emmanuel Adebayor, but they were absolutely torn apart on their left flank. With six changes to his team, Coppell dropped left-back Nicky Shorey all the way out of the squad and replaced him with the right-footed Liam Rosenior. Despite Coppell's later claims that Rosenior had played well, it certainly didn't look like that from where I was sitting. Kolo Toure and Theo Walcott linked up to devastating effect and savaged him, creating a series of chances including the opening goal. Shorey had publicly stated that he was unsure where his future lies, but if Coppell wanted to teach him a lesson, then it was expensive tuition.
Arsenal were magnificent. Relieved of pressure, they carried themselves with confidence and returned to the cavalier football that had delighted us all earlier this season. Instead of tentatively pinging the ball around their opponent's penalty area for ten minutes at a time, they started to probe their opponents with through-balls. In recent months they've seemed too scared to attempt anything that might result in them losing possession, but they played with renewed courage here. Cesc Fabregas, who has looked tired and drained of late, was a new man. The young Spaniard has said in the past that he prefers to make goals rather than score them and he passed the ball around to great effect here.
There have been a number of areas where Arsenal have been found wanting this season, but one of the least discussed has been their appalling habit of blasting all their corners straight at the midriff of the near-post defender. Not any more. One of the most pleasing aspects about this victory was their willingness to experiment with the short corner. Sometimes they'd play the ball back and allow Robin van Persie to swing in a cross from a better angle, sometimes they fooled everyone and released the Dutchman with a cheeky pass, enabing him to hare in on goal from a narrow angle. Reading just didn't know want to do.
Arsene Wenger acknowledged afterwards that his team can only hope to chase Chelsea for third, but if they play out the rest of the season like this, they'll have a chance. This was the London club back to their beguiling best and if they can hold their key players down, next season could be even more exciting. For Reading, the omens are less encouraging. This was their fourth game without a goal and their players' heads will be so low that they'll be in danger of tripping over them soon. They travel to Wigan next week and nothing less than a win will do.
