Arsenal win 7-5 in a thrilling cup tie

By Jeffrey Lau | Oct 30, 2012 10:32 PM EDT

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Arsenal booked their place in the quarter final of the League Cup after a great comeback from 0-4 against Reading, as Theo Walcott scored an amazing hat-trick.

Reading first opened the score at 12 minutes, when Jason Roberts received a cross from Hal Robson-Kanu down the left and scored with a sliding kick. Six minutes later, Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny scored an own-goal when attempting to make a clearance.

Arsenal's nightmare continued as goalkeeper Damián Martinez made an error while saving a long-shot by Mikele Leigertwood and allowed the ball to slip into the goal. At 36 minutes, Reading further extended the lead to 4-0, as Noel Hunt headed in the cross that was sent in by Garath McCleary.

Arsenal managed to pull one back before half-time, Walcott received a direct through ball from Andrey Arshavin and scored with a lifting shot. At 64 minutes, Walcott took the corner and substitute Olivier Giroud scored with a header. The away team continued to build on their regained confidence and added in the third goal with Koscielny's header at 89 minutes.

Arsenal finally managed to equalize in stoppage time with Watcott's second goal and the match entered extra-time with the score of 4-4.

At 102 minutes, Marouane Chamakh turned and scored to put Arsenal ahead for the first time. However, just 4 minutes before the end of extra-time, Pavel Pogrebnyak helped Reading to equalize with a header.

Just as when everyone thought the game would end with penalty, Arsenal scored twice in two minutes with Watcott completing his hat-trick and Chamakh adding his second goal.

Arsenal managed to book their place in the last eight of the Capital One Cup, as Reading became the first ever team in the English Cup history to score five goals and yet lose the game.

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