Walcott completes crazy comeback

Reading 5 Arsenal 7

The Gunners looked down and out when Reading took a 3-0 lead inside 20 minutes, Jason Roberts and Mikele Leigertwood striking either side of Laurent Koscielny’s own goal, and Noel Hunt’s header seemed like the final nail in the coffin.

But Walcott pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time and, after substitute Olivier Giroud and Koscielny had cut the deficit, they scored a last-minute equaliser when Walcott’s shot appeared to cross the line before Nicky Shorey’s clearance and Carl Jenkinson followed up to make sure.

Two goals from Marouane Chamakh and another from Walcott sealed victory, though there was another nervy moment when Pavel Pogrebnyak’s header made it 5-5.

Walcott told Sky Sports 2: “It was an unbelievable game. I’m absolutely knackered now.

“We’ve scored seven goals away from home — it was great going forward. Maybe defensively it wasn’t great at times, but we’re in the draw and that’s what matters.”

Walcott walked off with the match ball but admitted afterwards his second goal may be credited to full-back Jenkinson.

“I’d love to have goal-line technology to get the hat-trick but if they’ve not given it, then well done Carl!” he said. “I’ll have to give the ball back to the referee!”

Jenkinson added: “I’ve wanted to get a goal and I’m just glad it’s come there.”

The many visiting fans who left after Hunt had scored Reading’s fourth will have missed one of their club’s finest comebacks after a dire first half.

Reading made a bright start, but they could not have dreamed of the impending nine-minute spell that delivered three goals.

The first was beautifully worked with Hunt spreading the ball wide to Hal Robson-Kanu who picked out Roberts with a perfect low cross that the veteran striker smashed home.

There was more than a hint of luck over the second with Koscielny deflecting an attempt by Chris Gunter past Damian Martinez at the near post.

Barely had the Reading fans’ celebrations ended before they were brought to their feet once more when Leigertwood powered the ball home in the 21st minute.

Gareth McCleary struck a hanging cross that fell to Hunt close to the far post and he outjumped Jenkinson before directing his header off the right post and into the net.

Respite finally arrived for the Gunners in first half injury-time when Walcott gathered Andrei Arshavin’s pass and chipped keeper Federici.

The goal was nearly cancelled out shortly after the interval when Miquel Ignasi almost found his own net and then Leigertwood was guilty of wasting a reasonable chance.

Arsenal enjoyed a flurry of chances with Walcott and Serge Gnabry going close, before Chamakh had a penalty turned down and was subsequently booked for demonstrating to the linesman.

The visitors were spending more time on the ball and were rewarded when substitute Giroud nodded home in the 65th minute.

Giroud almost grabbed a second but was denied by a super save from the diving Federici.

Reading’s defence was under enormous pressure as they dealt with waves of Arsenal attacks and they cracked with two minutes remaining when Koscielny headed in a corner.

The fingertips of Federici appeared to have prevented Walcott from taking the match into extra-time, but Arsenal were level in the 96th minute.

Defender Nicky Shorey was on hand to stop the ball crossing the line but Jenkinson smashed it home.

Giroud and Arshavin combined to send Chamakh racing in on goal and he showed his gratitude by steering the ball beyond Federici.

But neither a roller-coaster match nor Reading were finished as Pogrebnyak nodded in a cross by Chris Hunt with three minutes remaining.

Walcott and Chamakh then struck in the dying moments of the match, concluding a heart-stopping night.

READING: Federici, Gunter, Gorkss, Morrison, Shorey, Tabb, McCleary (McAnuff 73), Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, Roberts (Church 90), Hunt (Pogrebnyak 73).

ARSENAL: Martinez, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Djourou, Miquel (Meade 105), Arshavin, Frimpong (Giroud 62), Coquelin, Walcott, Chamakh, Gnabry (Eisfeld 62).

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).