Gunners end bad week on a good note
Arsenal went some way to putting a troubled week behind them with a 2-1 victory over Reading at the Emirates Stadium.
A run of three straight defeats coupled with the fallout from the mass brawl at the end of the Carling Cup final had left Arsene Wenger not only less than impressed with the powers at be in Soho Square, but also with more than one or two selection worries through suspension and injury.
However, talk of a crisis proved unfounded as the patched-up Gunners proved too strong for the Barclays Premiership surprise packages and made the most of Liverpool's defeat to Manchester United by closing the gap on third place to just one point.
After one of the misses of the season from Cesc Fabregas, second-half goals via Brazilian duo Gilberto, from a penalty, and Julio Baptista proved enough for victory.
However, there was a tense finale when Fabregas put through his own net following a Reading corner.
With games in hand on the sides above them, Arsenal may yet have a say in the destiny of the title.
But now immediate attentions will turn to Wednesday night's crucial Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven, when at least Wenger will be able to welcome back his suspended trio.
Following today's outcome, though, perhaps he will rest just a little easier.
It had been a positive start by the hosts, Freddie Ljungberg almost getting on the end of a chip into the penalty area by Fabregas.
Theo Walcott - who scored his first senior goal for the club in last weekend's Carling Cup final - was looking lively in attack.
However, Arsenal lacked a telling pass to release the pacy teenager.
After 13 minutes, the ball broke to Baptista on the penalty spot following good work down the right.
The Brazilian took a touch to find space, but could only drill his shot wide.
A quick counter-attack from just outside the Arsenal area and a neat interchange of passes saw Ljungberg put clear through the heart of the Reading defence.
However, his low strike from the edge of the Royals box was beaten away by keeper Marcus Hahnemann.
Reading remained calm and slowly started to see more of the ball, if without really testing the Arsenal back line.
The home side then somehow contrived to miss the best opening of the game on 30 minutes.
Baptista stole possession off James Harper, once on Arsenal's books, in the six-yard box.
He drew the keeper before laying a pass back across to Fabregas.
The ball was slightly behind his team-mate, who miskicked completely with the goal at his mercy and the chance went begging.
The home side were now enjoying their best spell, but again could not find the telling pass to open up the Reading defence.
At the start of the second half, Fabregas saw his well-struck 25-yard effort turned away acrobatically by Hahnemann.
On 51 minutes, Arsenal were awarded a penalty.
Left-back Gael Clichy got ahead of Andre Bikey on the edge of the area.
The Reading defender clearly tugged at the Frenchman, with contact continuing well into the box before Clichy was nudged over.
The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Gilberto had missed one at Bolton in the FA Cup recently - but the stand-in captain made no mistake this afternoon, beating Hahnemann low into the right corner past the outstretched hand of the keeper.
Arsenal were soon on the attack again.
Walcott cut in from the left and curled just wide of the far post from 18 yards.
On 60 minutes, a delicate chip from Fabregas picked out the lively England youngster in the penalty area - but Hahnemann was off his line quickly to make an important block.
Baptista soon showed him how it should be done, as Arsenal doubled their lead on 62 minutes.
A quick break following a Reading corner saw Johan Djourou release Denilson, who in turn picked out his fellow Brazilian making progress down the left.
The striker - on loan from Real Madrid - carried the ball on towards the edge of the area, where he simply barged past Royals skipper Graeme Murty and blasted a low strike under Hahnemann from six yards.
Reading were in danger of being torn apart on the counter-attack, but could have pulled a goal back when Sidwell powered his header over from a corner.
Arsenal then failed to deal with a ball into the six-yard box - only for Sidwell to drag his shot across goal and wide of the far post.
Reading were now in danger of being hit on the counter-attack.
Baptista almost added a second, while substitute Jeremie Aliadiere saw his effort correctly ruled out for offside.
Reading pulled one back with three minutes to go.
A corner from the left was flicked on at the near post - and Fabregas stuck out a boot to divert the ball past Jens Lehmann.
It needed a fine save at his near post from the German to keep out Sidwell's fierce drive, before Arsenal safely saw out four minutes of stoppage time.
