Arsenal produced a fine display last night to beat strugglers Reading 5-2 at the Madejski Stadium with a fine hat-trick from Santi Cazorla leading the way.
Here is some reaction from after the game.
Reading manager, Brian McDermott:
“I was very pleased with the response in the second half. Now we’ll stick together and move on.
“We’ve got to fight, no doubt about that – that’s the only choice we have.
“We had to do that last year, the year before that and the year before that when we were in a similar position in the Championship.
“I think people have forgotten where we have come from over a short period of time. But the fans got behind us, they saw in the second half we tried to have a go and get the goals back.”
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger:
‘Our target was to win in a convincing way and we did it,’ he said.
‘At 4-0 we had a little wobbling period, and at 4-2 of course with what happened last week we became a bit uncertain before the 5-2 killed the game, but overall it was important to go out and play and give the right answer on the football pitch.
‘I said many times I believe in this team, the players want to do well, but again I don’t want to talk too much. The only way we can show that is winning our games.
‘We need now to go from strength to strength.’
Arsenal goalscorer, Theo Walcott:
‘We showed people the true Arsenal.
‘We don’t really take notice of the outside. We’re a big family and we know our quality and that we’re good enough.
‘I enjoyed playing up front and the boss gave me that opportunity. I thought I did very well and the players around me always make my job easier.’
Arsenal midfieder, Jack Wilshere:
‘I think we saw the old Arsenal in some patches tonight.
‘We need to tighten up defensively as we gave two sloppy goals away.’
‘As players we’re disappointed, naturally. It’s a natural feeling of disappointment when you lose to a lower league team.
‘It’s been a tough and disappointing week and we had to come here and be strong.
‘They’re fighting relegation so we knew they would be up for it.
‘Theo and Santi were different class and the boys around them helped as well.’
Alex William Batt
