Arsenal remarkably came back from four goals down to move into the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a pulsating 7-5 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium last night.
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 equaliser in from close range deep into injury time.
Arsenal thought their 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 metres.
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.
Scott McDonald earned Middlesbrough aquarter-final place with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sunderland in their Wear-Tees derby at the Stadium of Light.
The striker, who was handed a start by Boro boss Tony Mowbray after he scored both of the goals in last weekend’s 2-1 Championship win over Bolton from the bench, scrambled the ball home from six yards at the near post late in the first half.
It was enough for Middlesbrough to progress as Sunderland lacked the cutting edge that has seen them draw six of their eight Premier League games so far this season.
Leeds secured another top-flight scalp as they brushed aside Southampton 3-0 at Elland Road.
Saints manager Nigel Adkins’ decision to make 11 changes backfired on him as goals from Michael Tonge, El-Hadji Diouf and Luciano Becchio saw the home side through.
It took until the 70th minute for Southampton to register a shot at goal and it will be Leedswho enter the hat tonight for a first quarter-final appearance since 1996.
Aston Villa are through to the quarter-finals for the third time in four seasons after Christian Benteke scored a late winner in a 3-2 victory at Swindon.
Villa looked to be cruising to victory as goals from Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor earned them a 2-0 half-time lead.
But the League One sidefought back through two goals from substitute Miles Storey before Benteke had the final say.
Fourth round
Leeds 3 - Southampton 0
Reading 5 - Arsenal 7 (after extra-time; 90 mins 4-4)
Sunderland 0 - Middlesbrough 1
Swindon 2 - Aston Villa 3
Wigan 0 - Bradford 0 (aet; Bradford win 4-2 on pens)
Today – 20.45
Chelsea vs Man. United
Norwich vs Tottenham
Liverpool vs Swansea - 21.00