Arsenal go back to the top

Arsenal have returned to the top of the Premiership with a 3-1 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Monday night. Goals from Mathieu Flamini, Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexander Hleb were enough for the Gunners to seal the game, but a late consolation from Nicky Shorey did not dampen the Gunners' mood.

Mathieu Flamini broke the deadlock in the 44th minute to give the visitors the lead at the break. They finally broke through in the 44th minute with a move which began from the back. Adebayor sent the ball to Hleb and his short cross was met by Flamini, who rode a challenge from Sonko and saw the ball loop into the far corner.

Togolese international striker Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor doubled the lead in the 52nd minute and could have scored more but he sent one bouncing back from the woodwork and the referee ruled another goal for offside. His goal came when the Togolese hitman sent the ball wide to Rosicky, he returned it to Fabregas, and his lay-back enabled the Togo striker to place the ball in the far corner.

Alexander Hleb made it 3-0 12 minutes later, Fabregas's pass spun off Gunnarsson into Hleb's path and he walked it into the area before finishing. The home side where able to pull one back just two minutes before the final whistle by Nicky Shorey.

After draws against Liverpool and Manchester United, Arsenal extended another club record - the number of successive games without defeat, to 27. Arsenal leapfrogged United to go back to the top thanks to their superior number of goals scored.