Arsenal 2 Reading 1

Arsenal went some way to putting a troubled week behind them with victory over Reading at the Emirates Stadium.

A run of three straight defeats coupled with the fallout from the mass brawl at the end of the Carling Cup final had left Arsene Wenger not only less than impressed with the powers at be in Soho Square, but also with more than one or two selection worries through suspension and injury.

However, talk of a crisis proved unfounded as the patched-up Gunners proved too strong for the Barclays Premiership surprise packages and made the most of Liverpool's defeat to Manchester United by closing the gap on third place to just one point.

After one of the misses of the season from Cesc Fabregas, second-half goals via Brazilian duo Gilberto, from a penalty, and Julio Baptista proved enough for victory.

However, there was a tense finale when Fabregas put through his own net following a Reading corner.

With games in hand on the sides above them, Arsenal may yet have a say in the destiny of the title.

But now immediate attentions will turn to Wednesday night's crucial Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven, when at least Wenger will be able to welcome back his suspended trio.

Following the outcome here, though, perhaps he will rest just a little easier.

It had been a positive start by the hosts, Freddie Ljungberg almost getting on the end of a chip into the penalty area by Fabregas.

Theo Walcott - who scored his first senior goal for the club in last weekend's Carling Cup final - was also looking lively in attack.

However, Arsenal lacked a telling pass to release the pacy teenager.

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