Arsenal won comfortably against Reading. It could have been difficult but Arsenal had a brilliant game and they never looked troubled by Reading. In fact, it was too easy at times for Arsenal to fashion chances. It started with the pressing, with the forwards winning the ball in dangerous positions. Gervinho and Cazorla played excellently off Giroud and the three combined to create Arsenal’s first three goals, effectively ending the game as a contest.

Nigel Adkins has been newly appointed as Reading manager, and it was clear the team struggled to adapt to his changes. He clearly wanted Reading to play out from the back with short passes along the ground, but this was a dangerous strategy against an Arsenal team hunting in packs. Reading’s passing would eventually get them a goal but there wasn’t nearly enough ball retention to trouble Arsenal. [click pictures to enlarge]

With Reading unable to keep hold of the ball, Arsenal had plenty of possession, and many opportunities to create chances and score goals. Gervinho and Cazorla were key in this. Cazorla, shifted wide in this game with Rosicky’s return, continually cut inside and operated in the space between midfield and defensive line. Gervinho’s position was interesting. He played the same way Walcott usually does, starting off hugging the touchline, but as the ball moves into the final third, moving up to the offside line with Giroud, and joining him in the box for crosses. He was more effective than Walcott recently, though. His movement was intelligent, but more importantly he made things happen with the ball at his feet.

One thing Gervinho and Cazorla did well was link up with Giroud. In recent games, we haven’t taken advantage of Giroud’s presence in the box. He is strong enough to hold off defenders and is always available for a pass to his feet. Unfortunately Walcott’s tendency to drift out of games and Giroud’s inconsistent touch meant they didn’t create anything against Swansea. Against Reading, Gervinho cut inside and always looked to play passes off Giroud. In fact, the first goal came from Gervinho doing just that – finding Giroud in the box, and then running off him looking for a return pass. Giroud’s touch and passing was once against inconsistent but the team used him better.

After 75 minutes, Giroud and Gervinho gave way for Podolski and Oxlade-Chamberlain, respectively. The Ox carried on where Gervinho left off, dribbling at the heart of Reading’s defence and winning a penalty in the process. The bigger change was Podolski. I’ve often wondered why Podolski doesn’t play center forward more often, and his fifteen minute cameo in that role offered some explanation.

Giroud is a typical no.9. As discussed above, he is strong with his back to goal, and is a great target for long balls and crosses. He is also extremely useful at defending set pieces. He plays high up on the offside line, rarely dropping deep into midfield, and his movement in short bursts in the box is fantastic. However, his technique often lets him down when he gets chances to score or when he receives the ball inside the box. His decision-making and passing is inconsistent and he tends to slow the play down rather than maintain the high tempo of our midfield.

Podolski is the more technically gifted of the two. He is a clinical finisher, and loves dropping deep to combine with the midfield. Some of the one-touch stuff we played with him involved was sublime. However, his dropping deep into midfield can be detrimental. It seemed at times that he didn’t know where exactly to position himself, and on a couple of occasion got in the way of the midfielders. Wenger wants his striker to remain patient, and create space for the midfield with forward runs. Giroud does this well. Podolski’s backward movement squeezes the space for the midfield. This was exacerbated by the departure of Gervinho, who likes moving off the ball, for The Ox, who, being a midfielder, is also attracted to it. Perhaps pairing Poldi with a more off-the-shoulder forward would make up for his lack of forward movement. Poldi also is a poor header of the ball, and thus completely useless from crosses and goal kicks. But despite the cons, I feel Poldi has it in him to be a proper goalscoring striker for the Arsenal if given a good run in that position.

It seems Arsene Wenger has found a winning formula for this team. Giroud certainly seems to be at the heart of it, despite his weaknesses, as the team learns to use his strengths. Quick interchanges between the striker and the midfield are key in breaking down deep defences. And Arsenal’s continued defensive solidity and intense pressing was encouraging to see.