LONDON, Nov 13: 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.

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.

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