Match Report


ArsenalArsenal     ReadingReading
Luke KerrLuke Kerr Aleksandar Nikolov Aleksandar Nikolov
Ivan HoweyI. Howey85
G
1
G
80Vegard SoltvedtV. Soltvedt
Andy MckayA. Mckay81
D
2
D
76Oliver BirkwaldO. Birkwald
Hermann HaraldurH. Haraldur77
D
3
D
80Adam VassellA. Vassell
Manuel ReisM. Reis76
D
4
D
77Martin BobanM. Boban
Javier CuellarJ. Cuellar75
D
5
M
85Shaun GodberS. Godber
Tony JobsonT. Jobson90
M
captain6
M
82David LawtonD. Lawton
Ben GreeningB. Greening86
M
7
M
88Stephen MendezS. Mendez
Teddy MorrisT. Morris80
M
8
M
82Kemal HaynesK. Haynes
Marcel Ferreira-LeiteM. Ferreira-Leite83
A
9captain
A
79John BishopJ. Bishop
Farid SalhiF. Salhi82
A
10
A
80Helder LopesH. Lopes
Marcus BishopM. Bishop77
A
11
A
84Duarte MoutinhoD. Moutinho
 
Giovanni M. BurianiG. Buriani77
M
12
D
73Gary AllmanG. Allman
Gilles CotteeG. Cottee76
A
13
M
81Danny CotteeD. Cottee
Mamar LeroyM. Leroy74
D
14
A
83Bernard WomeB. Wome

Green Towers Spa
today's match is sponsored by Green Towers Spa
Match Report
It's a sunny day here at Emirates Stadium where Arsenal play host to Reading. A crowd of 19,141 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Arsenal are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Reading appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Arsenal looks especially fired up for this match.
Today's match is refereed by Marc Milligan.


0.00
Arsenal kick off and get the first half underway!
3.19
Hermann Haraldur brings the ball forward. Hermann Haraldur flicks a high pass forward. Marcel Ferreira-Leite controls it well on his chest. Marcel Ferreira-Leite makes a defence splitting pass to Marcus Bishop. Marcus Bishop looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal. Vegard Soltvedt gathers the ball up comfortably. Great keeping!
10.43
Stephen Mendez flicks a high pass forward. Shaun Godber holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Shaun Godber threads the ball through to Kemal Haynes but he's offside!
12.46
Martin Boban makes a simple pass to Shaun Godber. Shaun Godber flicks a high pass forward. Stephen Mendez controls it well on his chest. Stephen Mendez shoots from 25 yards but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
14.25
Marcus Bishop knocks the ball to his team mate, Marcel Ferreira-Leite. Marcel Ferreira-Leite flicks the ball to his team mate, Tony Jobson. Tony Jobson looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal. It's miles wide!
15.47
Marcus Bishop sees Ben Greening in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Ben Greening plays a scrappy one-two with Tony Jobson and stumbles forward towards the goal... Ben Greening comes in from the left and smashes a shot from 11 yards out. What a cracker!! Vegard Soltvedt had no chance!! Goal for Arsenal!
20.35
David Lawton makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho shoots from outside the area. Good keeping from Ivan Howey as he gets his fingers to the ball and pushes it wide.
21.18
Stephen Mendez takes the corner, chipping the ball into the box. Farid Salhi reaches the ball and heads it out of the danger area!
22.02
John Bishop controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Stephen Mendez. Stephen Mendez advances inside the box! Stephen Mendez rockets a shot on goal. The ball clips the underside of the bar and bounces just over the line. The fans cheer wildly!
27.24
Manuel Reis threads a neat ball through to Teddy Morris. Teddy Morris threads the ball through to Marcus Bishop. Marcus Bishop knocks in a cross ball towards Marcel Ferreira-Leite. Marcel Ferreira-Leite heads the ball goalwards. The keeper is on top of it. Well saved!
28.30
Adam Vassell barges into Ben Greening. The referee calls over Adam Vassell and shows him a yellow card! Ben Greening hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
32.03
Stephen Mendez flicks a high ball forward to John Bishop who takes it down. John Bishop finds some space and shoots from distance but it sails harmlessly over the bar!
34.26
Kemal Haynes hits a low pass to John Bishop. John Bishop kicks a strong pass forward to Helder Lopes but the referee indicates it's offside!
36.34
Stephen Mendez flicks a high ball forward to David Lawton who takes it down. David Lawton plays a quick one-two with Duarte Moutinho and rushes in on goal... David Lawton shows great control and tries a shot on goal but Ivan Howey is on top of it.
38.03
Ben Greening knocks the ball forward to Marcus Bishop. Marcus Bishop knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Vegard Soltvedt who gathers it comfortably.
44.18
Farid Salhi runs deep into the other half of the pitch. Farid Salhi deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Marcus Bishop but the linesman indicates offside!
45.00
The referee whistles the end of the first half!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Arsenal appear unchanged since the first half. Reading also appear unchanged since the first half. The Reading players look more motivated than they were before.

45.00
The whistle blows and Reading get the second half underway!
48.04
Martin Boban flicks the ball to his team mate, Shaun Godber. Shaun Godber knocks the ball forward to Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho knocks in a cross ball towards John Bishop. John Bishop powers a header at goal. The ball skims just under the bar, beyond the keeper's outstretched hand. Goal!!
51.43
Tony Jobson flicks a high pass forward. Farid Salhi holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Farid Salhi controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. Vegard Soltvedt gets down and covers it.
53.13
Hermann Haraldur threads the ball through to Ben Greening. Ben Greening flicks a high ball forward to Marcel Ferreira-Leite who takes it down. Marcel Ferreira-Leite advances inside the box! Marcel Ferreira-Leite side-steps and rifles a shot at goal. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
57.47
Stephen Mendez threads a neat ball through to Shaun Godber. Shaun Godber sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but slams it into the crowd!
60.22
Reading have made 3 substitutions with Gary Allman replacing Martin Boban, Danny Cottee replacing David Lawton and Bernard Wome replacing Helder Lopes .
63.52
Farid Salhi sees Tony Jobson in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Tony Jobson knocks the ball beyond the defensive line but Farid Salhi is offside!
65.16
Gary Allman takes it forward alone. Gary Allman sees Bernard Wome in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Bernard Wome sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball dips but the keeper is a match for it. Fabulous save!
66.07
With vision, Oliver Birkwald plays the ball forward to Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho shoots from distance. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
69.54
Teddy Morris sees Ben Greening in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Ben Greening knocks in a cross ball towards Teddy Morris. Teddy Morris jumps high and flicks the ball with his head. The keeper is on top of it. Excellent keeping!
72.42
Kemal Haynes brings the ball forward. Kemal Haynes knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
73.57
Tony Jobson sees Marcus Bishop in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Marcus Bishop flicks a high pass forward. Marcel Ferreira-Leite controls it well on his chest and turns goalwards. Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Marcel Ferreira-Leite provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal but it rises well off target!
75.27
Manuel Reis hacks Danny Cottee from behind! The referee calls over Manuel Reis and shows him a yellow card! Danny Cottee stretches but gets up unharmed.
83.09
Adam Vassell knocks the ball to his team mate, Stephen Mendez. Stephen Mendez deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Bernard Wome. Bernard Wome plays a quick one-two with Duarte Moutinho and rushes in on goal... Bernard Wome strikes a beautiful right-footed shot at goal. The ball comes in low, but Ivan Howey comfortably smothers it!
84.08
Oliver Birkwald deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Shaun Godber. Shaun Godber makes a beautiful solo run. Shaun Godber edges inside the box! Shaun Godber tries a spectacular strike. The ball takes a deflection leaving Ivan Howey with no chance!! Goal for Reading!
87.49
Shaun Godber knocks the ball to his team mate, Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho lofts in a cross ball towards Kemal Haynes. Kemal Haynes connects with the ball, driving a powerful header at goal but it is deflected wide by Manuel Reis.
88.36
Stephen Mendez takes a quick corner, playing it short to Adam Vassell. Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Adam Vassell provides some space. He shoots at goal. Good keeping from Ivan Howey as he gets his fingers to the ball and pushes it wide.
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Arsenal

Reading
Goals
2
3
Shots on Target
6
9
Shots off Target
2
4
Offsides
2
2
Fouls
1
1
Yellow Cards
1
1
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
43.2%
56.8%
Play Area
28.4%
45.7%
25.9%

Scorers
Ben Greening 15
Marcel Ferreira-Leite 53
Stephen Mendez 22
John Bishop 48
Shaun Godber 84

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Stephen Mendez of Reading

Match Ratings
1.Ivan Howey (GK)
7
2.Andy Mckay (DEF)
6
3.Hermann Haraldur (DEF)
6
4.Manuel Reis (DEF)yellow card
5
5.Javier Cuellar (DEF)
6
6.Tony Jobson (MID)
7
7.Ben Greening (MID)goal scored
8
8.Teddy Morris (MID)
6
9.Marcel Ferreira-Leite (ATT)goal scored
8
10.Farid Salhi (ATT)
6
11.Marcus Bishop (ATT)
6
 
12.Giovanni M. Buriani (MID)
0
13.Gilles Cottee (ATT)
0
14.Mamar Leroy (DEF)
0

1.Vegard Soltvedt (GK)
7
2.Oliver Birkwald (DEF)
6
3.Adam Vassell (DEF)yellow card
6
4.Martin Boban (DEF)
6
5.Shaun Godber (MID)goal scored
9
6.David Lawton (MID)
6
7.Stephen Mendez (MID)goal scored
9
8.Kemal Haynes (MID)
6
9.John Bishop (ATT)goal scored
8
10.Helder Lopes (ATT)
6
11.Duarte Moutinho (ATT)
7
 
12.Gary Allman (DEF)
6
13.Danny Cottee (MID)
6
14.Bernard Wome (ATT)
6