Match Report
| Arsenal | Arsenal |  |  | Reading | Reading | ||||||||||||||||
| Luke Kerr | Luke Kerr | manager | Aleksandar Nikolov | Aleksandar Nikolov | |||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Martino | T. Martino |  | 72 | G |  | 1 | | G | 70 |  | Vicente Duarte | V. Duarte | |||||||||
| Gaspar Loureiro | G. Loureiro |  | 76 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 67 |  | Ronnie Sharpe | R. Sharpe | |||||||||
| Hakan Abdullah | H. Abdullah |  | 75 | D | | 3 | | D | 62 | | Leon Upson | L. Upson | |||||||||
| Andy Mckay | A. Mckay | | 76 | D | | 4 | | D | 67 |  | Rafael Lozano | R. Lozano | |||||||||
| Billy Hopkin | B. Hopkin |  | 76 | D | | 5 | | M | 71 |  | Gerard Melchiot | G. Melchiot | |||||||||
| Mike Waters | M. Waters | | 76 | M | | 6 | | M | 72 | | Jorge Teixeira | J. Teixeira | |||||||||
| Tony Jobson | T. Jobson | | 78 | M | | 7 | | M | 69 | | Ralph Moffat | R. Moffat | |||||||||
| John Robson | J. Robson | | 79 | A |  | | 8 | | M | 69 | | Michael Vernazza | M. Vernazza | ||||||||
| Gilles Cottee | G. Cottee | | 76 | A | | 9 | | M | 78 | | Steve Defoe | S. Defoe | |||||||||
| Rainer Jahn | R. Jahn |  | 73 | A | | 10 | | A | 75 | | John Bishop | J. Bishop | |||||||||
| Steve Salako | S. Salako | | 73 | A | | 11 | | | A | 81 | | Duarte Moutinho | D. Moutinho | ||||||||
| Phil Lawrence | P. Lawrence | | 39 | M | | 12 | | D | 76 | | Adam Vassell | A. Vassell | |||||||||
| Sylvain Thatcher | S. Thatcher | | 50 | D | | 13 | | M | 83 | | Stephen Mendez | S. Mendez | |||||||||
| Aaron Greaves | A. Greaves | | 38 | M | | 14 | | A | 81 | | Les Tiler | L. Tiler | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by Veeniti TV |
Match Report
Match Report
It's a beautiful clear and sunny day here at Emirates Stadium where Arsenal play Reading in this league cup game. Its a sell-out today with the 14,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Arsenal are playing in a 4-2-4 formation while Reading appear to be shaped for 3-5-2.
Today's match is refereed by Ronnie Harley.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Arsenal are playing in a 4-2-4 formation while Reading appear to be shaped for 3-5-2.
Today's match is refereed by Ronnie Harley.
0.00
0-0Arsenal kick off the first half!
3.48
0-0Andy Mckay breaks forward. Andy Mckay flicks a high pass forward to Gilles Cottee who brings the ball under control. Gilles Cottee plays a one-two with John Robson and advances towards the goal... Gilles Cottee side-steps and rifles a shot at goal but it's well over the bar!
6.06
0-0Jorge Teixeira sees space and advances. Jorge Teixeira knocks the ball forward to Duarte Moutinho but the linesmans flag is up. Offside!
8.34
1-0Mike Waters flicks a high pass forward. John Robson controls it well on his chest. John Robson threads a neat, attacking ball through to Gilles Cottee. Gilles Cottee rockets a shot on goal. Gilles Cottee scores for Arsenal!!
20.52
Gerard Melchiot knocks the ball to his team mate, Jorge Teixeira. Jorge Teixeira makes a defence splitting pass to John Bishop. John Bishop shoots from just inside the box which easily beats the keeper. Goal!!
24.44
John Robson flicks a high pass forward to Tony Jobson who brings the ball under control. Tony Jobson whips in a cross ball towards John Robson. John Robson shows true skill creating a chance out of nothing and knocks the ball goalwards with his head. The keeper, Vicente Duarte, sees it late!! Goal for Arsenal!
27.56
2-1Michael Vernazza deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Leon Upson. Leon Upson kicks a strong pass forward to John Bishop. John Bishop knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
33.25
Leon Upson takes a quick throw-in, lobbing the ball to the feet of Jorge Teixeira. Jorge Teixeira surges forward with the ball. Jorge Teixeira deftly passes the ball to his team mate, John Bishop but the linesman indicates offside!
34.36
Andy Mckay makes a simple pass to Tony Jobson. Tony Jobson hits a low pass to Rainer Jahn. Rainer Jahn lofts in a cross ball towards Steve Salako. Steve Salako jumps high and flicks the ball with his head but it misses the target by a large margin!
36.49
Gaspar Loureiro sweeps the ball up the wings. Tony Jobson knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
39.18
Andy Mckay runs straight at the opposition's defence. Andy Mckay advances inside the box! Andy Mckay tries a spectacular strike but he gets too far under it and it goes high into the crowd!
40.05
2-1There is some beautiful football being played out on the pitch today.
45.00
The play is deadlocked with neither team giving up possession lightly.
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 have changed their lineup with Les Tiler replacing Duarte Moutinho. The Reading players look more motivated than they were before.
45.00
Reading kick off the second half!
48.27
Tony Jobson decides to run forward with the ball. Tony Jobson shoots from 25 yards but he gets too far under it and it goes high into the crowd!
53.49
Tony Jobson flicks a high pass forward. Gilles Cottee holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Gilles Cottee whips in a cross ball towards Steve Salako. With a superhuman jump, Steve Salako connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. It's in!! A beautiful goal for Steve Salako!
57.19
3-1Ralph Moffat knocks the ball forward to John Bishop. John Bishop controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. Magnificent save by Thomas Martino!
59.23
Seeing a gap ahead, Hakan Abdullah plays the ball forward to Tony Jobson. Tony Jobson knocks in a cross ball towards Gilles Cottee. Gilles Cottee jumps high and flicks the ball with his head. Gilles Cottee scores for Arsenal!!
61.23
4-1Reading have made 2 substitutions with Adam Vassell replacing Leon Upson and Stephen Mendez replacing Michael Vernazza .
63.18
Mike Waters chips the ball to his team mate, John Robson. John Robson knocks in a cross ball towards Rainer Jahn. Rainer Jahn makes a convincing header. Vicente Duarte is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
69.26
Jorge Teixeira laces a through ball forward to Steve Defoe. Steve Defoe controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Les Tiler. Les Tiler shoots from 25 yards. Thomas Martino gathers the ball up comfortably. Great keeping!
72.33
Hakan Abdullah controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Tony Jobson. Tony Jobson plays the ball forward to Mike Waters. Mike Waters controls the ball well and immediately threads the ball forward, putting Gilles Cottee through on goal. Gilles Cottee looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal. Vicente Duarte is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
78.44
Gaspar Loureiro receives the ball from a throw-in from Hakan Abdullah. Gaspar Loureiro flicks the ball to his team mate, Tony Jobson. With great vision, Tony Jobson plays the ball forward to Mike Waters. Mike Waters knocks in a cross ball towards Gilles Cottee. Gilles Cottee knocks the ball goalwards with his head but it's a woeful effort!
79.49
John Robson deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Mike Waters. Mike Waters plays a quick one-two with Gilles Cottee and rushes in on goal... Mike Waters shoots from just inside the box. Vicente Duarte gathers the ball up comfortably. Excellent keeping!
83.10
John Robson kicks a strong pass forward to Steve Salako. Steve Salako lofts in a cross ball towards John Robson. John Robson finds space and glances the ball goalwards with his head. The ball takes a deflection leaving Vicente Duarte with no chance!! Goal for Arsenal!
89.19
Jorge Teixeira flicks a high pass forward. John Bishop holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. John Bishop knocks in a cross ball towards Les Tiler. Les Tiler knocks the ball goalwards with his head but connects badly, narrowly missing the linesman!
90.00
The whistle indicates full-time!
Match Statistics
Match Statistics
Goals
Shots on Target
Shots off Target
Offsides
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Possession
Play Area
Scorers
| Gilles Cottee 8, 59, 72 John Robson 24, 83 Steve Salako 53 Rainer Jahn 63 | John Bishop 21 |
Match Ratings
Match Ratings
1. Thomas Martino (GK)
6
2. Gaspar Loureiro (DEF)
6
3. Hakan Abdullah (DEF)
6
4. Andy Mckay (DEF)
7
5. Billy Hopkin (DEF)
6
6. Mike Waters (MID)
7
7. Tony Jobson (MID)
7
8. John Robson (ATT)
9
9. Gilles Cottee (ATT)
9
10. Rainer Jahn (ATT)
7
11. Steve Salako (ATT)
7
12. Phil Lawrence (MID)
0
13. Sylvain Thatcher (DEF)
0
14. Aaron Greaves (MID)
0
1. Vicente Duarte (GK)
6
2. Ronnie Sharpe (DEF)
6
3. Leon Upson (DEF)
6
4. Rafael Lozano (DEF)
6
5. Gerard Melchiot (MID)
6
6. Jorge Teixeira (MID)
7
7. Ralph Moffat (MID)
6
8. Michael Vernazza (MID)
6
9. Steve Defoe (MID)
6
10. John Bishop (ATT)
7
11. Duarte Moutinho (ATT)
6
12. Adam Vassell (DEF)
6
13. Stephen Mendez (MID)
6
14. Les Tiler (ATT)
6