(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-13 10:19

LONDON - Classy Arsenal cruised to a 3-1 win at Reading on Monday to extend their club record to 27 unbeaten matches and replace Manchester United on top of the Premier League.

Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini (R) celebrates his goal with Tomas Rosicky during their English Premier League soccer match against Reading at the Madejski Stadium in Reading November 12, 2007. [Agencies]

Goals from Frenchman Mathieu Flamini after 44 minutes, Ivorian Emmanuel Adebayor after 52 and Belarussian Aleksandr Hleb 12 minutes from time lifted Arsenal to 30 points from 12 matches. United have 30 points from 13 games.

Both teams have goal differences of plus 17 but Arsenal are top, having netted 27 to United's 23.

Flamini, who had not scored for Arsenal since December, put his team ahead with a close-range deflected shot after a good passing move.

Adebayor made it 2-0 with a curling shot inside keeper Marcus Hahnemann's far post, chalking up Arsenal's 1,000th Premier League goal.

Hleb added the third after twisting past the keeper and lashing home when it appeared he might lose control of the ball.

"I felt we were in control," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Setanta Sport. "It's good to win when you play the last match (of the weekend).

"We showed we had the nerve to deal with that and we are heading the league, in charge and just want to stay in control."

Arsenal, who were last beaten in any competition on April 7, could easily have won by a bigger margin on a chilly night at the Madejski Stadium.

Adebayor hit the post in the third minute and the same player had a goal harshly ruled out for offside in the second half.

Nicky Shorey took advantage of rare confusion in the Arsenal defence to grab a consolation for Reading three minutes from time.