Arsenal produced a fantastic display last night to defeat rock-bottom Reading 5-2 at the Madejski Stadium.

The Gunners were in complete control in the first half and took the lead in the 14^th minute. Germany international Lukas Podolski fired Arsenal into the lead after Kieran Gibbs had found the attacker with a superb cross.

Santi Cazorla stooped low to head home Arsenal’s second goal on 32^nd minutes, before being allowed too much space in the penalty area two minutes later to make it three. Cazorla scored his hat-trick in the 60^th minute, tapping home from close-range, after good work from Lukas Podolski.

The Royals got back into the game slightly in the 66^th minute, as substitute Adam Le Fondre slotted home past Wojciech Szczesny. Reading got a second goal in the 71^st minute, winger Jimmy Kebe scoring after a good run.

However the victory was rounded-off with ten minutes to go, as Theo Walcott fired low past Adam Federici from a Santi Cazorla pass. The Spaniard went off near the end to a well-deserved standing ovation from the Gunners fans.

The victory took Arsene Wenger’s men to fifth place in the Premier League table. The Gunners are now just two points behind arch-rivals Tottenham who are currently in fourth place.

Poor

Arsenal ruthlessly exposed Reading’s weaknesses and this game proved that Reading are not good enough to be in the Premier League. Brian McDermott’s men were one of the favourites to go down at the start of the season and this display showed why they were such underdogs.

The Royals are bottom of the Premier League table and six points away from safety. It could be a very long and hard season for the men from Berkshire. It looks like they are set for a quick return to the Championship.

Can Reading recover from this mauling and stay in the Premier League?