Gunners ease to Royals win

The Gunners - whose hopes of the title and European glory have evaporated in recent weeks - started well, with recalled Theo Walcott impressing and Emmanuel Adebayor put them ahead on the half hour.

Gilberto doubled the lead following a deflection off Reading defender Andre Bikey and it could have been more in the second half as Arsenal twice hit the woodwork.

Arsenal eventually took the lead when Kolo Toure floated a lovely ball over to the edge of the penalty area from the right and Adebayor collected it on his thigh before coolly slotting low past Hahnemann for his 27th goal of the season.

Reading's task got even harder on 38 minutes, when a deflected effort from Gilberto made it 2-0.

Arsenal moved the ball down the left, before Cesc Fabregas cut it back to the Brazilian, in space on the edge of the area. His 20-yard strike was on target, but it cannoned off the head of Bikey and flew past a wrong-footed Hahnemann into the top left corner.

The American was kept busy as half-time approached, again saving well at his near post to deny Van Persie and Toure.

In the 71st minute Van Persie smashed a free-kick against the underside of the crossbar, then the right-hand post, but somehow it stayed out.

Moments later the impressive Theo Walcott saw his curling effort also come back off the bar, as Hahnemann watched.

Reading finally managed an effort on goal when Bobby Convey's drive was beaten away by Jens Lehmann.