Gunners’ greatest escape
1 Nov 2012 6:35 AM IST
Arsenal remarkably came back from four goals down to move into the quarterfinals of the League Cup with a pulsating 7-5 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday.
Reading, third from bottom in the Premier League, notched four goals in the opening 37 minutes thanks to Jason Roberts, Mikele Leigertwood, Noel Hunt and a Laurent Koscielny own goal.
Theo Walcott gave the Gunners hope just before the break and impressive substitute Olivier Giroud made it 4-2 on 64 minutes with a classy header.
Koscielny made up for his earlier error with another headed goal in the 89th minute before Walcott bundled the equaliser in from close range deep into injury time.
Arsenal thought their comeback was complete when the much maligned Marouane Chamakh, making his first start since January, drilled the ball home after 103 minutes before Pavel Pogrebnyak pulled Reading level with a header from six metres.
Then, just as the goalkeepers were preparing for a penalty shootout, Andrei Arshavin’s shot was cleared off the line by a Reading boot and feel kindly for Walcott who gleefully scored his third goal of the night. Chamakh added Arsenal’s seventh just before the whistle.
Arsenal’s victory was touted as the greatest comeback of all time in League Cup history.
The Times newspaper called the 12-goal thriller on Tuesday ‘The Miracle at the Majedski’ while the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent said: ‘This was one of the craziest of cup ties, Mad Stad living up to its nickname.’
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was also full of praise for his side and assessed that the victory was one of the best of his long career.
‘We went from disaster to saving our pride,’ Wenger said. ‘The fans stayed behind the team throughout and I have to give them credit.
‘Maybe this is one of my greatest victories. You cannot play for Arsenal and give up, no matter what the score.’ Arsenal head to Old Trafford this weekend.
Reading, third from bottom in the Premier League, notched four goals in the opening 37 minutes thanks to Jason Roberts, Mikele Leigertwood, Noel Hunt and a Laurent Koscielny own goal.
Theo Walcott gave the Gunners hope just before the break and impressive substitute Olivier Giroud made it 4-2 on 64 minutes with a classy header.
Koscielny made up for his earlier error with another headed goal in the 89th minute before Walcott bundled the equaliser in from close range deep into injury time.
Arsenal thought their comeback was complete when the much maligned Marouane Chamakh, making his first start since January, drilled the ball home after 103 minutes before Pavel Pogrebnyak pulled Reading level with a header from six metres.
Then, just as the goalkeepers were preparing for a penalty shootout, Andrei Arshavin’s shot was cleared off the line by a Reading boot and feel kindly for Walcott who gleefully scored his third goal of the night. Chamakh added Arsenal’s seventh just before the whistle.
Arsenal’s victory was touted as the greatest comeback of all time in League Cup history.
The Times newspaper called the 12-goal thriller on Tuesday ‘The Miracle at the Majedski’ while the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent said: ‘This was one of the craziest of cup ties, Mad Stad living up to its nickname.’
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was also full of praise for his side and assessed that the victory was one of the best of his long career.
‘We went from disaster to saving our pride,’ Wenger said. ‘The fans stayed behind the team throughout and I have to give them credit.
‘Maybe this is one of my greatest victories. You cannot play for Arsenal and give up, no matter what the score.’ Arsenal head to Old Trafford this weekend.
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