READING - Arsenal again signalled their intent to battle Manchester United's 'golden generation' all the way as Arsene Wenger's men went back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a virtuoso display of their own brand of beautiful football at Reading.
The Gunners extended a club record unbeaten run to 27 successive games in all competitions as the Royals were simply outclassed, with Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor finishing off superb moves either side of half-time before Alexander Hleb's fine late individual goal wrapped up a comprehensive victory.
England full-back Nicky Shorey grabbed a late consolation goal.
While Sir Alex Ferguson may believe his own crop of talent, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, have what it takes to be the best he has managed at Old Trafford, Wenger's emerging side once again proved they have the undoubted potential to deliver top honours - and signs are 2008 could turn out to be a vintage year.
As expected, the Gunners boss recalled his key men for Monday's clash, having rested the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Hleb for the Champions League trip to Slavia Prague.
Despite the fast-freezing conditions it was a bright start by the visitors at a packed Madejski Stadium.
Arsenal - who still have a match in hand on their rivals - came within inches of taking the lead after three minutes.
Fabregas won possession just inside the Reading half, and instantly split the home defence with a first-time through ball for Adebayor.
The Togo frontman stayed ahead of Ibrahima Sonko and drew the keeper out of goal.
However, despite rolling the ball coolly past Marcus Hahnemann from 16 yards, the African was unfortunate to see his shot come back of the base of the right-hand post.
After the early scare, Reading soon found their own rhythm.
However, despite making some progress down both flanks, the final delivery into the Arsenal penalty area was poor.
When the visitors went forwards, they often found nine men behind the ball at the other end.
Slowly, Arsenal continued to build the pressure, with Reading not able to get any sort of counter-attack going.
However, after 31 minutes, visiting keeper Manuel Almunia was finally called into action as he beat away a fierce drive from Brynjar Gunnarsson after the ball had dropped sweetly for the Reading man some 25 yards out.
After 37 minutes, Fabregas got a push in the back from Gunnarsson to earn a free-kick in a central position, just outside the penalty arc.
The dead ball was rolled to Kolo Toure, but the Ivory Coast defender drilled his shot horribly wide.
Arsenal then snatched the lead shortly before half-time.
The ball was won in midfield by Tomas Rosicky - fit again following a groin problem - and quickly fed Adebayor down the right, who in turn found Hleb on the overlap.
The Belarus winger pulled the ball back across the six-yard box, where Flamini was on hand to steer it into the net ahead of his marker Sonko.
Arsenal had to win by two goals to return to the top of the table following Manchester United's win over Blackburn yesterday and they were again bright at the start of the second half.
Eboue almost picked out Adebayor with a chipped cross following a quick break down the right.
Flamini sent in a stinging low drive from 20 yards, which Hahnemann pushed behind even though it was probably going wide.
It was 2-0 soon enough.
Another quick interchange of passes saw Adebayor speed away down the left in the 52nd minute.
He fed Rosicky on the overlap before the ball was pushed into Fabregas just inside the box. The Spaniard in turn laid it back to Adebayor, who calmly placed the ball low into the far right corner to end his eight-match goal drought.
The big Togo frontman was celebrating again as he prodded home Rosicky's centre following a blistering counter-attack - only to be denied what looked a perfectly-executed goal by a rather dubious offside flag.
The match opened up during the final 20 minutes, with plenty of space both in midfield and down the flanks.
With 13 minutes left, Hleb latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the area.
The Belarus winger skipped one challenge and showed quick feet to keep Hahnemann at bay - before stepping back to smash a close-range effort past the man on the line and into the back of the net.
Fabregas was booked - his fifth of the season which will see him serve a one-match ban - for a foul on substitute Emerse Fae.
Shorey then hit the base of the post with a curling 20-yard free-kick.
Reading did get their consolation with three minutes to go when the England full-back drilled the ball home following uncharacteristic moment of chaos in the Arsenal six-yard box.
