Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla grabbed his first hat-trick in English football as Arsenal beat Reading 5-2Arsenal beat Reading 5-2 at the Madejski Stadium in the English Premier League Spaniard Santi Cazorla nets his first hat-trick in English football as Arsenal cruiseResult eases pressure on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as club go fifthReading remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after tenth defeat(CNN) -- Arsenal recorded an emphatic 5-2 win at bottom side Reading to ease the pressure on their embattled manager Arsene Wenger and move fifth in the English Premier League.
Wenger has come in for heavy criticism in recent weeks with some calling for his sacking after the Gunners lost a League Cup tie to fourth-tier Bradford City last week despite fielding a full strength side.But stung by the barbs from their fans and the media, Arsenal cruised into a 4-0 lead with their Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla grabbing his first hat-trick in English football.And despite Reading dragging the game back to 4-2 at one point, contract rebel Theo Walcott grabbed a fifth goal to make the game safe.The win takes Arsenal back into fifth in the table, two points off Chelsea in third. Wenger acknowledged it was important to get back to winning ways.var currExpandable="expand16";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='sports/2012/12/05/lionel-messi-goal-record.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/121205053840-lionel-messi-goal-record-00000000-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand16Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand26";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='sports/2012/12/07/pkg-zolbert-new-football-goal-line-technology.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/121206050250-football-goalline-technology-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand26Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand36";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='bestoftv/2012/11/22/ctw-italian-ultra-thugs.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/121123123547-ctw-italian-ultra-thugs-00014606-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand36Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand46";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='sports/2012/10/01/pinto-jose-mourinho-real-madrid-exclusive.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/121001015527-pinto-jose-mourinho-real-madrid-exclusive-00025019-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand46Store=mObj;"Its always interesting," he told Sky Sports of the reaction to their defeat at Bradford. "Difficult because of course you would prefer everything goes well but you discover who is strong."In 16 years we went once out against a team from a lower division. If you compare that record to all the other clubs in England it is still the best record on that front. I agree it hurt and it was very disappointing, on the night Bradford did well."On the reaction to their shock defeat Wenger added: "I don't want to judge (the criticism). I'm responsible when it goes well and when it doesn't I have to take the criticism."The two sides shared 12 goals in an amazing League Cup tie back in October, Arsenal running out 7-5 winners, and the visitors were 3-0 up inside 34 minutes.German international Lukas Podolski opened the scoring just before the quarter hour mark, taking down Kieran Gibbs' cross before lashing past Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici.Cazorla doubled Arsenal's lead when he met Podolski's cross to convert from close range with a diving header.And Cazorla grabbed his second when his turn and shot beat Federici after another Gibbs cross caused panic in Reading penalty area.Reading came out in the second half with more purpose but conceded a fourth when a sweeping Arsenal move ended with Cazorla polishing off another Podolski cross to register a hat-trick.Reading refused to give up and hit back with two goals in five minutes. First substitute Adam Le Fondre rounded Wojciech Szczesny to finish off Jay Tabb's cute through ball.Then Hal Robson-Kanu capitalized on a mistake from Gibbs to set up Jimmy Kebe whose finish reduced the deficit to just two.But any hopes of a dramatic comeback evaporated when Theo Walcott, granted his wish to play as a center forward, finished low past Federici from Cazorla's pass.Walcott, who is yet to sign a new contract with the club, said the squad had pulled together in the wake of their cup exit. "We don't take notice of the outside world. We know it hasn't been good enough in recent weeks but hopefully we showed people the real Arsenal tonight."On his contract, which expires at the end of the season, Walcott added: "Talks are ongoing and its going to be a slow progress, it takes a long time. I'm sure something will happen soon."For Reading it marked their sixth consecutive Premier League defeat and they remain bottom of the table, six points from safety and facing an immediate return to the second tier.Reading manager Brian McDermott tried to take the positives from an improved second half display. He said: "First half they played well and we couldn't get close to them and in the second half it was a good response from the players."Arsenal were at the top of their game tonight. That won't shape our season that game tonight."
December 13, 2012 -- Updated 1335 GMT (2135 HKT) 
Racist abuse, fan violence, attacks on players -- on the face of it, English football seems to be experiencing a return to its darkest days.December 14, 2012 -- Updated 1509 GMT (2309 HKT) 
He might have walked alone in a crowd of 15,000 fans, but for one Italian soccer fan that lonely experience has resulted in internet stardom.
CNN's John Sinnott on the quiet coach who has overseen Barca's record-breaking start to the season. December 10, 2012 -- Updated 1547 GMT (2347 HKT) 
Lionel Messi's record-breaking 86-goal haul in 2012 further enhanced the argument that the Argentine is the best player the world has ever seen.December 11, 2012 -- Updated 1100 GMT (1900 HKT) 
Lionel Messi takes just 25 minutes to dispel any doubts that he would break Gerd Muller's 1972 world record of goals in a calendar year.December 6, 2012 -- Updated 1824 GMT (0224 HKT) 
Diego Mendieta was a man who needed help. There he lay, helpless. Alone. Dying. There were no news stories. There was no Twitter hashtag. 
Comparing the unique talents of Lionel Messi and Gerd Muller, two very different goal scorers from very different eras.December 4, 2012 -- Updated 1557 GMT (2357 HKT) 
Lionel Messi has dominated the football landscape in 2012 scoring goals for club and country at a rate unparalleled by any of his peers.
Is it time for referees to stop matches if racist and anti-Semitic abuse occurs?November 27, 2012 -- Updated 1321 GMT (2121 HKT) 
Violent attacks, the chanting of Adolf Hitler's name and anti-Semitic abuse -- not dark memories of the 1930s but present reality for Tottenham.
CNN's Tom McGowan outlines why Rafael Benitez can succeed as interim Chelsea manager.
CNN's Pedro Pinto looks at how Roberto di Matteo's Chelsea tenure unraveled.November 21, 2012 -- Updated 1159 GMT (1959 HKT) 
Last Wednesday, in a move that I still don't fully understand, I became a shareholder in the Spanish football club Real Oviedo.November 21, 2012 -- Updated 1641 GMT (0041 HKT) 
The Secret Footballer lifts the lid on betting practices in the English Premier League in a special column for CNN.November 15, 2012 -- Updated 1846 GMT (0246 HKT) 
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's stunning overhead volley in Sweden's win against England set ripples across social media.
After his four-goal tour de force against England, CNN's Pedro Pinto examines the merits of the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimovic.November 13, 2012 -- Updated 1738 GMT (0138 HKT) 
The Secret Footballer reveals his experiences of the gambling addiction that is rife among many English Premier League players.
Today's five most popular stories