Remarkable comeback sees Arsenal beat Reading in Cup

Arsenal pulled off a remarkable comeback in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night. The Gunners were 4-0 down to Reading but a spirited fightback from the team saw them pull 4 goals back to take the game into extra-time. Extra-time brought more goals though as Arsenal finally went on to win an incredible 7-5 at the Madejski stadium. It was an extroadinary night of football as Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick whilst Giroud and Koscielny bagged a goal each and Marouane Chamakh who was starting for the first time since January grabbed a brace. Arsenal were absolutely awful at the back and didn't cover themselves in too much glory in the first half but the attacking performance was simply brilliant as the likes of Andrey Arshavin ran the Reading defence ragged all night long.

Arsene Wenger made 11 changes to the starting lineup from Saturdays victory over QPR. Damian Martinez started in goal as Djourou and Koscielny partnered each other at the back. Meanwhile Frimpong started for the first time since returning from injury whilst Serge Gnabry started a competitive game for the first time.

Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to win an incredible game

The first chance of the game came from a Reading corner as the ball was delivered onto the head of Morrison who hit the post.

Just 11 minutes into the game and Reading were ahead. Robson-Kanu got the ball out wide before finding Roberts at the back post who tapped the ball home.

Five minutes later and the Royals were 2-0 up. Chris Gunter managed to fire in a cross from the right hand side which came off Koscielny and beat Martinez at his near post.

Moments later Reading found themselves 3 goals to the good. Leigertwood struck a shot from just inside the area which Martinez got a palm to but couldn't prevent the ball bouncing into the net.

The hosts were dominating the game and then got themselves a fourth. McCleary whipped in a cross and managed to pick out Noel Hunt inside the penalty area who headed the ball home.

Arsenal's best chance of the match came four minutes from the break as Coquelin played in Chamakh but his left footed shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

At the end of the first half the Gunners were finally finding their feet in the match and then finally got themselves a goal. Andrey Arshavin found Walcott who raced in on goal before dinking the ball over the goalkeeper for 4-1.

The first chance of the second half fell to Leigertwood who once again found space just inside the penalty area to find a shot but this time the ball flew over the bar.

Arsenal's first chance of the second half fell to Gnabry as he weaved his way past a Reading player before firing a shot across goal and just past the far post.

Just after the hour mark Arsenal pulled a second goal back and it came from Olivier Giroud who had only just come on. Theo Walcott's corner found the head of the Frenchman who then found the back of the Reading net.

Two minutes from the end of the game it was 4-3 and Arsenal suddenly felt as though they could level the game up. The goal came from another corner as Walcott delivered the ball in again and this time it found Koscielny who headed past the goalkeeper.

Then with effectively the last kick of normal time and in the fifth minute of injury time, Arsenal equalised! Coquelin found Chamakh who knocked the ball down to Walcott, he then took a shot which looked to be cleared off the line but Jenkinson followed up to find the net. A goal which was later to be confirmed as Walcott's second of the night.

The score at the end of 90 minutes was 4-4 and the game went into extra-time.

Towards the end of the first period of extra time Arsenal found themselves in front for the first time in the game. Giroud found Arshavin who then played the ball to Chamakh and he struck a low shot from outside the box which beat Federici to give the Gunners the lead.

It wasn't over as there was more drama as Reading equalised. Church's shot was deflected into the path of Pogrebnyak who headed the ball past Martinez for yet another goal in this tie.

However, there was another twist as in the last minute of extra-time Andrey Arshavin ran at the Reading defence and then fired in a shot which was cleared away but only as far as Walcott who smashed the ball home for the winner.

The Gunners then found themselves another goal as Theo Walcott smashed the ball down the pitch, the defender misjudged the ball and it came to Chamakh who chipped the keeper from 25 yards for his second of the night and to seal the victory.

The final score on a simply incredible night finished Reading 5-7 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Reading: Federici, Gunter, Gorkss, Morrison, Shorey, Tabb, Leigertwood, McCleary(74), Robson-Kanu, Hunt(74), Roberts(90).
Subs: Taylor, Harte, Pearce, McAnuff(74), Church(90), Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak(74).

Arsenal: Martinez, Jenkinson, Djourou, Koscielny, Miquel(105), Coquelin, Frimpong(62), Arshavin, Gnabry(62), Walcott, Chamakh.
Subs: Shea, Squillaci, Meade(105), Bellerin, Yennaris, Eisfeld(62), Giroud(62).

Man of the match: Theo Walcott

Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 23,980