Premiership, Arsenal 2-1 Reading

Gunners back to winning ways

Arsenal moved to within one point of third-placed Liverpool with a deserved but, at the end, nervous victory. Cesc Fabregas mis-kicked in front of an open goal but Gilberto Silva put Arsenal in front from the penalty spot after Andre Bikey fouled Gael Clinchy.

This was a worthy victory for Arsenal, yet the afternoon began with Arsenal team in their default setting of seething frustration, dominating possession but struggling to expose chinks in a tightly-packed defence.

Shorn of Emmanuel Adebayor and Thierry Henry, their finishing was painfully profligate, with Cesc Fabregas the biggest culprit. Barely a minute had passed when the Spaniard was set up by Alexander Hleb, but his touch deserted him and Andre Bikey raced back to whip the ball from his toes. Then, in the 29th minute, Fabregas missed a chance that will give him sleepless nights for weeks to come. After James Harper failed to clear a loose ball, Baptista seized possession and squared to Fabregas four yards out. The 19-year-old swung his right boot but missed his shot entirely, the ball bouncing off his standing leg before bobbling clear.

In the 50th minute, Bikey, desperately attempting to keep up with the livewire Denilson, appeared to pull back at Denilson's shirt before becoming entangled with his legs. It was enough to convince Chris Foy, the referee, to award a penalty which Gilberto converted with surgical precision.

A second goal seemed inevitable and it duly arrived in the 61st minute. After a Reading corner had fizzled out, Arsenal streaked downfield at breakneck speed: Denilson slipped a pass to Baptista, who barged past Graeme Murty before toe-poking into the bottom corner.

With the game seemingly over, Reading woke up. Steve Sidwell headed over from a corner and then shot wastefully wide from close range, before Fabregas diverted a corner into his own net.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
"We could have done better, we looked a bit shaky at 2-1.

"We missed a few chances in the second half because we were slow to make important decisions.

"Reading were positive and dangerous and played in an intelligent way. They are one of the few teams that have come here and tried to play."

Reading boss Steve Coppell:
"We had opportunities, but credit to Arsenal - they were very, very patient and when they are in front they play with a different tempo.

"They controlled possession for long periods but we responded to that and played a full part in the game.

"We now have 14 days without a game. We can take stock and recharge out batteries, which is important."

Arsenal: Lehmann, Djourou, Gallas, Silva, Clichy, Ljungberg (Diaby 70), Fabregas, Denilson, Hleb (Senderos 86), Walcott (Aliadiere 71), Julio Baptista.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Traore.

Booked: Senderos.

Goals: Silva 51 pen, Julio Baptista 62.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Shorey, Little (Doyle 80), Sidwell, Harper (Gunnarsson 71), Hunt (Oster 65), Kitson, Lita.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Duberry.

Booked: Kitson.

Goals: Fabregas (87 og).

Premier League, Arsenal 2-1 Reading Full highlights and goals:

English Premier League, Arsenal Vs Reading preview

Arsenal will turn their focus back to the Premiership on Saturday, after having lost the League Cup final a week ago before being bounced out of the FA Cup on Wednesday.

Arsene Wenger's side will be hoping to fight back from those two defeats, to Chelsea and Blackburn respectively, and consolidate the final Champions League spot with victory over Reading at the Emirates.

Arsenal:

RETURNING: Cesc Fabregas (rested)

OUT: Emmanuel Eboue, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure (all suspended), Vasiriki Diaby (ankle), Robin van Persie (metatarsal), Mathieu Flamini (foot), Thierry Henry (foot), Tomas Rosicky (groin), Justin Hoyte (hamstring)

DOUBTFUL: Johann Djourou (ankle), Jeremie Aliadiere (flu).

Statistics: Arsenal are still unbeaten at the Emirates after 13 games played at their new home, and have beaten Reading in all six meetings in all competitions.

MANAGER'S QUOTE: "It is just a coincidence that you have 20 men who have a brawl and only the Arsenal players were guilty. It is unbelievable but maybe they [the FA] have their own way to do justice." Arsene Wenger.

Reading:

RETURNING: Andre Bikey (suspension)

OUT: Bobby Convey (anterior cruciate ligament), Ibrahima Sonko (anterior cruciate ligament), Peter Mate (knee)

DOUBTFUL: None.

Statistics: Reading have never beaten Arsenal in league or cup games, and have not scored against the Gunners for 20 years

MANAGER'S QUOTE: "In many ways you are just in awe of teams like Arsenal when they are really flowing. You look at their ability going forward and you just think 'wow'. And I am also in awe of what they are doing with their youngsters. It is a shame they are not English youngsters but you can only but respect the way he is nurturing players there and the way any combination can gel." Steve Coppell.

FA Cup Fifth round replay, Reading 2-3 Manchester United

Match Full Report and Highlights.

Reading were the width of a crossbar away from completing one of the finest comebacks in FA Cup history at the Madejski Stadium as they went down 3-2 to Manchester United. Reading boss Steve Coppell began the game with an aggressive looking forward line of three including Irish international Kevin Doyle, making his first start in over a month after overcoming a hamstring injury.

With just a minute gone Reading's boss was considering a rethink as Gabriel Heinze put United into the lead inside two minutes. Few minutes later it was far too simple for Saha to dartbetween De la Cruz and Bikey before finishing with an excellent shot. The Frenchman has been downgraded since Henrik Larsson arrived, but the latter will be going back to Sweden in a couple of weeks and the dynamism of Saha at the Madejski Stadium wasencouraging for United as they contemplate the run-in to the Premiership. Sir Alex Ferguson had another jolt of satisfaction here in the sixth minute. Richardson slung the ball to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the right and the craftsman finisher squeezed a shot just inside the far post.

The three goals sparked Reading into life and they gave themselves a spirited chance when Ivar Ingimarsson headed a John Oster corner into Dave Kitson who nodded home at the far post.
With their lead cut Manchester United then retreated further and further into their shells allowing a rejuvenated Reading to take the game to them and even though the second half struggled to match the spellbinding opening of the first the number of passes by red shirted players that were going astray gave the home side increased initiative.

Substitute Glen Little's cross had Leroy Lita in its sights on 78 minutes only for Wes Brown to pull off a fantastic defensive header to deny the England under-21 international at the far post.
The introduction of Rooney was Ferguson's attempt to kill off the game but Reading continued to press forward with intent and when Sidwell bundled his way into the penalty area to set up Kitson, Van der Sar was called upon to pull off a dramatic save.

The Royals finally had their goal when de le Cruz found Lita who stretched back largely unchallenged to head past the United keeper and despite Brynjar Gunnarsson crashing an effort against the crossbar in the final seconds Ferguson was able to relax and turn his attentions to Anfield on Saturday.

FA Cup, Reading 2-3 Manchester United Highlights and Goals