LONDON — Arsenal remarkably came back from four goals down to move into the quarterfinals of the League Cup with a pulsating 7-5 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium Wednesday. Reading, third from bottom in the Premier League, notched four goals in the opening 37 minutes thanks to Jason Roberts, Mikele Leigertwood, Noel Hunt and a Laurent Koscielny own goal. Theo Walcott gave the Gunners hope just before the break and impressive substitute Olivier Giroud made it 4-2 on 64 minutes with a classy header. Koscielny made up for his earlier error with another headed goal in the 89th minute before Walcott bundled the equalizer in from close range deep into injury time. Arsenal thought its comeback was complete when the much-maligned Marouane Chamakh, making his first start since January, drilled the ball home after 103 minutes before Pavel Pogrebnyak pulled Reading level with a header from six meters. Then, just as the goalkeepers were preparing for a penalty shootout, Andrei Arshavin's shot was cleared off the line by a Reading boot and feel kindly for Walcott who gleefully scored his third goal of the night. Chamakh added Arsenal's seventh goal just before the whistle. Aston Villa needed a last-gasp goal by Christian Benteke to ease past third tier Swindon Town 3-2 after having thrown away a 2-0 lead in the last 12 minutes. Southampton's woes continued with a 3-0 defeat at second tier Leeds United, while Sunderland went down 1-0 to second tier Middlesbrough, and Bradford City thrashed Wigan Athletic 4-2. 7 players charged Serbian police have charged 12 people, including five Serbian and two England players, over scuffles at the end of an Under-21 international two weeks ago, officials said in Belgrade Tuesday. In addition, assistant coaches from both sides were also charged for “taking part and committing violence” during the match in the central Serbian town of Krusevac, police said. Charges were also filed against five Serbian fans for “igniting and throwing flares” during the game which England claimed had been marred by racial abuse. In chaotic scenes, England defender Danny Rose was sent off for kicking the ball away in response to what he said was monkey chanting and provocation, as scuffles broke out between players, coaches and supporters. — Agencies
