Finally, a win! It's only been our second in nine Premier League games, but if you can get over the fact that we're going to end the season empty-handed, then it still feels pretty good. The crowd wasn't really into it for the first quarter of the game and the players looked like they hadn't really shaken off the Red Devil blues. But around the 20 minute mark, they moved into a different gear and were suddenly all over Reading. There were a number of chances before Adebayor used some lovely control on a Toure cross and coolly finished for the opener. There were plenty of chances for the home team after that, and even ol' Gilby had something like 3 shots on goal, converting the first with a neatly calculated angle off Bikey's head.
There were some other positives during the match which the highlights package wont necessarily cover. Fabregas and Van Persie had an interesting new approach to their corners. RVP took the right and Fab took the left, but at each corner the other would be present for a lay-off. Reading had no idea what was going on, but then again that was throughout the entire match. Van Persie also smacked in a gorgeous curling free kick which was sadly denied by the crossbar and upright. He also came in for some punishment from Reading when they realised that they were out of the game. We're used to it... all the crunching tackles and physical bullying being handed out to some of the more fragile Gunners... but today Hleb decided to take matters into his own hands, giving Murty a sly sock in the jaw when the ref wasn't looking. He had a wicked little chuckle when he slammed a shot (which wouldn't have counted because the whistle had been blown) into the centreback, leaving him in a heap in front of goal. I never realised he had that in his personality, but he'll probably be banned now for a few matches by the FA. Lehmann made some good saves, and looked safe and assured in goal. Theo started, and he had his moments too... just couldn't find that final pass.
But apart from the win, the best thing that happened in this match was that Eboue played at right back today! Hopefully this is a trend that will continue for the rest of his career. Wenger seems to have seen the light... although I still believe we need to get another quality winger, and let Theo play up front.
I'll leave you with the goals now.
There were some other positives during the match which the highlights package wont necessarily cover. Fabregas and Van Persie had an interesting new approach to their corners. RVP took the right and Fab took the left, but at each corner the other would be present for a lay-off. Reading had no idea what was going on, but then again that was throughout the entire match. Van Persie also smacked in a gorgeous curling free kick which was sadly denied by the crossbar and upright. He also came in for some punishment from Reading when they realised that they were out of the game. We're used to it... all the crunching tackles and physical bullying being handed out to some of the more fragile Gunners... but today Hleb decided to take matters into his own hands, giving Murty a sly sock in the jaw when the ref wasn't looking. He had a wicked little chuckle when he slammed a shot (which wouldn't have counted because the whistle had been blown) into the centreback, leaving him in a heap in front of goal. I never realised he had that in his personality, but he'll probably be banned now for a few matches by the FA. Lehmann made some good saves, and looked safe and assured in goal. Theo started, and he had his moments too... just couldn't find that final pass.
But apart from the win, the best thing that happened in this match was that Eboue played at right back today! Hopefully this is a trend that will continue for the rest of his career. Wenger seems to have seen the light... although I still believe we need to get another quality winger, and let Theo play up front.
I'll leave you with the goals now.
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