Football: ROYALS COPP IT

IT'S FAIR to say Hollywood hard man Vinnie Jones will not be considered for the post of Reading's new motivational coach.

Jones recorded a special video from his home in California that was played to the Royals players throughout the week in a bid to fire up them up for this clash.

But like so many of Vinnie's films, it proved to be a monumental flop.

With Arsenal having little more to play for than an outside chance of second place, the focus was firmly on their relegation- threatened visitors.

Reading came into the game just three points above the drop zone and fast running out of matches to save their skins.

But this wasn't a time to face a Gunners side still licking their wounds after crashing out of the title race at Manchester United last Sunday - and the scoreline flattered the away side.

First-half strikes from Emmanuel Adebayor and Gilberto Silva settled it as Reading came under siege from the opening minute of the game.

"Managers make a living out of getting results. Am I worried? I will continue to work hard with the players I have," said beaten boss Steve Coppell.

"The first goal undid us and the reaction from the players immediately afterwards was unacceptable. We were fighting against the tide. In the second half we put up more of a fight.

"I don't think this result will break our season.

"At the moment I have a squad from which I can pick two teams, and to be honest I couldn't tell you which team is better. All I do know is anything less than two wins of our last three games will leave us in trouble.

"But if that happens I will take responsibility. It will be my fault."

Arsenal outclassed their opponents, taking the lead on 30 minutes when Adebayor turned his marker and slotted home from close range, The second goal wasn't far behind, but there was an element of luck as Gilberto shot home from 25 yards via a wicked deflection off Andre Bikey that wrong-footed Marcus Hahnemann.

What pleased Wenger most was the way his side responded after the crushing defeat at Old Trafford.

"We responded well after massive disappointment," he said. "I was worried after last Sunday that we might not be able to find the strength to raise our game. That wasn't the case.

"It's not been easy for us. Every game we have played recently, things have gone against us. We have lost out by a photo finish in a season when the collective technical display of the team has been the best in 12 years."

But it seems these days controversy is never far away. Alexander Hleb is likely to face an FA investigation after TV replays clearly showed him slapping Graeme Murty in the face. The offence went unpunished by referee Peter Walton.

And immediately after the game Cesc Fabregas was forced to issue a statement after Sky Sports tried to turn a one-line answer into a raging debate about his future.

The Spaniard was quick to clear things up when he said: "My future belongs to Arsenal and that is the truth. This is the best club I can be at and I have said that many times."

Yet Wenger openly admitted that his plans for the summer could be undermined by raids on his stars. He said: "I want this team to stay together and prove we can win things with style, but it is proving harder with the new regulations.

"During the last 12 years we have always managed to keep our big players here, but those players are admired the world over and will always be tapped up."

DID YOU KNOW?

The first time Arsenal met Reading at home was a 1-0 3rd round League Cup win in 1967-68. Arsenal lost to Leeds in the final.

STATATTACK

STORY OFTHEGAME

ARSENAL READING

72% POSSESSION 28%

10 SHOTS ON TARGET 2

7 SHOTS OFF TARGET 3

12 CORNERS 4

8 FOULS CONCEDED 16

5 OFFSIDES 4

0 YELLOW CARDS 3

0 RED CARDS 0

THE RUN-IN

ARSENAL

DERBY (A), EVERTON (H), SUNDERLAND (A)

READING

WIGAN (A), TOTTENHAM (H), DERBY (A)

HOW THEY RATED

ARSENAL

Lehmann 7, Toure 7 (Eboue 7), Gallas 8, Song 7, Clichy 7, WALCOTT 9, Gilberto 7, Fabregas 8, Hleb (Denilson 7), Van Persie 8, Adebayor 7 (Bendtner 7).

MANAGER Wenger 7

READING

Hahnemann 7, Murty 6, Ingimarsson 5, Bike 4, Sonko 5 (Duberry 6), Rosenior 5, Kebe 7, Cisse 7, Harper 6 (Fae 7), Convey 6, Kitson 6.

MANAGER Coppell 5

REFEREE P Walton 8

HEADTOHEAD

ROBIN VAN PERSIE v ANDRE BIKEY

The Dutchman ran circles around Bikey, who merely resorted to sticking in the boot to stop him - and still didn't have much success.

MAN of the MATCH

THEO WALCOTT

Ran Reading ragged as he inspired Arsenal to victory in what proved a largely onesided clash.

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