English Football League Cup Report: Arsenal 2-0 Reading 25 October 2016
English Football League Cup Result: Arsenal 2-0 Reading Date: 25 October 2016 Venue: Emirates Stadium Arsenal were comfortable throughout their English Football League Cup tie with Reading on Tuesday as they won 2-0. The hosts showed some great interplay shortly after the game got underway with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jeff Reine-Adelaide linking up to set up Carl Jenkinson for the shot, but his attempt was saved before the rebound was headed over the bar. The Gunners came close again when Ainsley Maitland-Niles pounced on a poor headed clearance on the edge of the box, only to direct his shot just wide of the far post. Another Arsenal strike went wide as Alex Iwobi failed to hit the target with his effort from 20 yards out following a free kick. The breakthrough seemed inevitable and finally arrived in the 33rd minute. Oxlade-Chamberlain gained possession and ran at two Reading defenders before sending the ball through the legs of Blackett and tucking a shot away to make it 1-0. The Royals had a terrific chance to level matters when Callum Harriott unleashed a shot from just over 20 yards. It took a big deflection off Gabriel Paulista but ultimately fell onto the roof of the net. Ali Al Habsi proved his worth as he kept out another Arsenal attempt on the 70-minute mark. Mohamed Elneny crossed and Olivier Giroud headed on target, but the goalkeeper made a top save. The result was put to bed eight minutes later as the Gunners made it 2-0. Giroud held up the ball before teeing it up for Oxlade-Chamberlain who thumped it home.
