Adam Le Fondre and Jimmy Kebe reduced the deficit for Reading, but Theo Walcott's late strike confirmed Arsenal's rise to fifth place, two points behind Chelsea and Tottenham, and left the hosts bottom of the table and six points adrift of safety. It also gave Wenger and his players some much needed breathing space after heavy criticism following last week's shock League Cup quarter-final defeat at League Two minnows Bradford.
"It was important to stay strong and play football," Wenger said. "Success comes with playing (good) football. And it was a very convincing win tonight." Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere hailed Cazorla's contribution, saying: "His all-round play is great. It's tough for anyone to come from Spain into the Premier League, but he makes it look so easy."
Inevitably Wenger made changes from the side that had flopped so badly against Bradford. Ivory Coast forward Gervinho was dropped to the bench as Wenger opted for an attacking formation featuring Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Podolski. Walcott's return to fitness following a calf injury was particularly well-timed as the England international had scored a hat-trick at Reading in October in the League Cup when the Gunners recovered from being 4-0 down to win 7-5 in extra time.
Walcott began as the central attacker, the position he insists he prefers, with Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right and Podolski on the left. Oxlade-Chamberlain was quickly into the action, exchanging passes with Cazorla before forcing Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici into a diving parry.
Reading's Noel Hunt headed over from a corner but Arsenal's reply was a 14th-minute opener from Podolski, who took Kieran Gibbs' cross from the left down with one touch and rammed the ball past Federici with his next. Reading were rocking and Podolski created the next Arsenal chance with a cut back from the left and although Gibbs' initial effort was blocked Wilshere's follow-up forced Federici into another save.
Arsenal doubled their lead when Podolski's cross from the left was nodded in by the smallest man on the pitch, Cazorla, in the 32nd minute. And the Gunners needed only two minutes and 41 seconds to extend their lead, with Cazorla again the man on target.