Its simple… it's clinical… it's Arsenal...!
Posted by Martin in Arsenal, Reading, Thierry Henry | 23 October 2006
The Madejski stadium might have seen a couple of wins and draws this season, but they haven't quite seen the magic of the great one, Thierry Henry.
At least not until the end of the first sixty seconds when Thierry caught Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann flat footed and worked in with clinical precision a "Fabulous" cross from Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard showed once again why Arsenal signed a never before heard of eight-year contract with him by displaying his ability to control the ball while with standing the strong tackles from the Reading defense line.
This was just the kind of start that I am sure the millions of gunners fans wanted to see after their disappointing loss to CSKA Moscow in the champion’s league clash on Wednesday. It just re-instated the faith Arsene Wenger had in his young team as he made no changes to the starting 11.
The Arsenal domination continued despite a couple of threatening attacks coming out of set pieces from Reading. Jens Lehmann made a brilliant reflex save punching a well hit volley from Seol Ki-Hyeon. Arsenal unleashed their stylish football while holding much of the possession right from the start of the game.
A spectacular goal from Alexander Hleb in the 39th minute came out of a brilliant play from Rosicky and Hleb piercing the reading defense in the typical Arsenal style of quick, elegant and clean-sheet football.
The gunners sealed the lid on the reading fans hopes for seeing some equalizers when they scored their splendid third goal. It was majestic one-touch passing, deceiving through balls all over again when Alexander Hleb cut the ball back to Robin Van Persie who scored Arsenal's third goal.
Rosicky would have made it 4-0 if not for his back up shot that went wide off the target
The Gunners juggernaut continued rolling as Thierry Henry scored his second goal of the match when he finished a well deserved penalty kick hit the net deflecting off the right post.
Reading though was a goal down right from the first minute, showed their character, which was much, being talked about this season, by making a consistent effort to hold the deluge of attacks from the men in red and white. But the first half possession spoke for itself, for it said that they just ran out of their depth against the mighty gunners.
Any one who knows why we watch this game called football and saw the last weeks Readings 0-1 loss to Chelsea, would agree with me if I say that this Sunday’s clash was football played at its best, the way it was supposed to be. No wining down the substitution box, no lucky touches, no goals out of set pieces, and above all no acting skills displayed on the pitch.
To sum it up in a much clichéd phrase...
Its simple it's clinical it's Arsenal...!
Guest blogger the "Insane Raconteur"