Adebayor helps Arsenal back to winning ways against Reading
Saturday, 19 Apr 2008 15:33
Adebayor scored his 27th goal of the season
Emmanuel Adebayor and Gilberto Silva helped
Arsenal get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over
Reading at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners dominated proceedings and created a host of chances but with the Royals offering little in the final third their 2-0 half-time cushion was enough to see them home.
Steve Coppell's side will now be hoping the other sides at the foot of the Premier League table are not able to capitalise on their third successive defeat.
Arsenal enjoyed the majority of the possession in the opening quarter of the match but could not find a way past Marcus Hahnemann.
However, in the 30th minute Adebayor linked-up with Kolo Toure to break the deadlock.
The centre-half broke down the right wing and clipped the ball into Adebayor. His first touch with his thigh took him away from two defenders and he calmly slotted the ball past Hahnemann.
Arsenal went 2-0 ahead just before the break when Cesc Fabregas played a simple ball across the 18-yard box to Gilberto. His shot was going straight to Hahnemann but it took a deflection off Andre Bikey and flew into the top corner.
After the break Robin van Persie was unlucky to see a perfectly struck free-kick come back off the woodwork and Theo Walcott then hit the crossbar moments later as the Gunners continued to pressurise the Royals' goal.
Reading nearly pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining but Jens Lehmann was equal to Bobby Covey's shot.
As time was running out Fabregas' goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Reading substitute Michael Duberry.
The Gunners are now on 74 points with games against Derby,
Everton and
Sunderland to end the season.