Reading Vs Arsenal Ratings plus goals on video

By 1970’s Gooner

Have a look on the video window at Arsenal’s second goal. It epitomizes the way Arsene Wenger’s teams play their brand of beautiful football.

Adebayor passed to Rosicky who gave it to Fabregas who laid it back for Adebayor to score from just inside the box with the minimum of back lift and with the inside of his right boot put a swerving shot beyond the despairing Hahnemann.

Arsenal’s 1000th Premiership goal could not have had such a wonderful execution.

Player’s Ratings

Almunia; decisive and very good on high balls into the area. Was let down by his defenders for the Reading goal. Will keep his place foe Arsenal’s next match. 7

Hahnemann; Did the best he could under the circumstances. 7

Sagna; did not have much to do but was not as penetrative enough on the right wing as he could have been. 7

Murty; kept his position well throughout. 6

Clichy; probably his best performance of the season. Lightning quick and strong in the tackle at the back and also contributed going forward. 8

Shorey; I rate him as a full back and he should get more international call ups. Was there at the right place to put the ball in the net. 7

Gallas; it was an easy night out for the two central defenders but he was not strong in the air as he could have been. 7

Sonko; tried manfully to combat the Arsenal wave of attacks but kept making mistakes and on occasion was loosing possession easily. 5

Toure; same holds for Toure as for Gallas. Kolo ventured forward more but did not really have a clear plan of what to do when he got there. Fluffed a free kick wide. 7

Ingimarsson; strong in the air but had a handful in containing Adebayor. 6

Hleb; was involved in almost everything Arsenal did well, weaving his magic and scoring a goal only he could have contrived. 8

Convey; had pace but Clichy had more. Was subdued throughout. 4

Rosicky; more lively during this game than in his last outing. Made a lot of runs on the wing and played his part in Arsenal’s sumptuous second goal. 8



Hunt; asking a winger to play as a defensive wide midfielder for most of the game was not really Hunt’s game. Yet he stuck to his job. 6

Fabregas; fabulous again. Was at the heart of everything that Arsenal did especially for his assist for Adebayor’s goal. 9

Harper; played most of the game trying to stop Arsenal’s central midfielders from performing. A difficult task at the best of times. 6


Flamini; another box to box lung bursting performance. His first goal of the season typifies his style of play- from a defensive position ran the length of the pitch to get into the penalty area so that he could offer an outlet to Hleb. 9

Kitson; as with Hunt a wide midfielder asked to play defensively. Rather a waist of talent really. Why not play a defensive oriented player in the first place? 5

Eboue; Was involved in the play often enough but without real penetration on the wing. His partnership with Sagna although growing still has some way to go. His shots were hurried and off the mark. 7

Doyle; the lone striker playing in a thankless position coming up against two central defenders most of the time. Yet I was impressed with his heading ability. 7

Adebayor; Started rather lethargically and the chance created by Rosicky on the 4th minute when he put him clean through came a little bit too early in the game for him.

Made up for it though with his second. He was quite a handful for the Reading defenders but needs to improve on his control and close passing. 8

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