FIRSTLY, I must praise the team for beating Rotherham at the weekend in Kenny Jackett’s first game in charge of the Millers.

It was our first win there since September 2000.

We were the far superior side, yet even with 80% of possession in the first half, we couldn’t muster a single shot on target.

The Millers have conceded a huge 33 goals in 14 matches this season, but they looked more likely to break the deadlock for the first hour.

Yet again we relied on Ali Al Habsi pulling off some world-class saves before Paul McShane hit the winner with a striker’s finish.

‘Macca’ is gaining a reputation for his attacking prowess and more is surely to come.

After the game Jaap Stam said the game had given him a lot to think about as Rotherham played a lot of long balls “because they know we’re not the most physical side”. This needs addressing.

So on to the Emirates on Tuesday night and nearly 5,500 Royals fans watched Stam’s side lose 2-0 to a much stronger, if weakened, Gunners team
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started after struggling for game-time recently while a number of youngsters also got their chance.

Reading never really looked like scoring with Al Habsi undoubtedly the busier of the two goalkeepers.

I can’t help thinking that this was our biggest chance to date of upsetting the abysmal record we have against Arsenal – 14 games played, 14 losses.

But we only really created ‘half-chances’ to score while, in truth, Wenger’s side squandered a number of opportunities that their first string would have buried.

Despite a positive display from Dominic Samuel and Liam Kelly, it is most definitely a lesson for Jaap Stam and his team to learn that there is much, much more to be done if we want to challenge the big boys.

Still, on to Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday and I look forward to us bouncing back with a win.