Arsenal 3 - 0 Reading

Tuesday, 29 November 2005
Carling Cup

Away at Highbury - for the last time because next year we'll be playing them at the Emirates Stadium (hopefully)

Set off at 11:30 for a bit of a day out with Jon, Mark & Gary. A quiet lunch in Reading, quick train up to Paddington with a couple of Stellas on the train and then headed for Islington. The idea was to start at the bottom of Upper Street and then have a gentle crawl up towards Highbury Fields.

It didn't work out quite like that - Trevor and Ronnie arrived - and in the end we had to sprint to make the 7:45 start ... and didn't! 8 1/2 hours to make kick-off and just missed it.

Ah yes, the game, almost forgot about that. Reading began well and matched Arsenal in the middle of the park and at times looked threatening. Kitson had a header right in front of goal which hit the keeper rather than him saving it but from the save Arsenal counter-attacked and scored through Reyes. That little passage of play really summed up the match - Arsenal's speed on the break and subsequent finishing was just too good. Reyes and Van Persie scored quality goals - Stack (returning to Highbury) didn't have a chance with either shot -both of which fizzed into the back of the net. Lupoli added a third towards the end.

So endeth our run in the Carling Cup and with it hopes of the treble. I shan't miss Highbury. Poor view, terrible facilities and chaos in the corrider behind the stand where we were sitting. My final memory will be of one of the "Reading" fans, clearly dispondent at 3-0 down, leaving his seat, standing with his back to the Arsenal fans, clearly about to perform an aggressive act. Out came the offensive weapon - a CHelsea sock - which he rolled up and tossed over his shoulder into the Arsenal crowd shouting "Chelsea!" - Now that is HARD !