Laurence Griffiths/Getty ImagesSanti Cazorla, center, was all smiles after the diminutive Spaniard scored his second goal via header in Arsenal's 5-2 win over Reading.

Be truthful, Gooners. How many Arsenal fans went into panic mode when Reading brought the score line back to 4-2 in another goal-fest at the Madejski Stadium? I can hold my hand up and say the thought of being pegged back to 4-4 in the same way Arsenal achieved at Reading just a few weeks ago was a terrifying and very real fear. However, the Gunners showed a calmness and authority in their football, that has been lacking in recent weeks, to comfortably see out the match.

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Apart from that ten minute spell in the second half, it was the most relaxed viewing of an Arsenal match for a long time, and was such a contrast from the horrible feeling of watching the Bradford debacle six days ago. Arsenal looked fluid and focused, with every player willing to make a difference.

Arsene Wenger got his team selection spot on. With Reading prone to being open at the back, the selection of Theo Walcott to lead the line (the role he has been pining for and reportedly stalling on a new contract because of) was a signal of intent that Arsenal weren't going to panic and just look to get height on the ball into the box. It was also a good game for Walcott to stretch his legs in as the front man and not have to drop deep to constantly look for the ball. He proved himself to be a good option as a striker with a well taken goal. Throughout the game, Arsenal looked to use the pace off the front three to make space for runners from midfield.

However, for the front players to be effective, they need to receive the ball from the midfielders when they make their runs, and with a player with the quality of Santi Cazorla to do that, Arsenal will always be dangerous. Reading didn't close the Spaniard down enough, and he killed them for it. Even when the Royals did get tight to Cazorla, he simply spun away, and with the confidence growing in the Arsenal team, had options to pass to. His build-up play was superb, and allowed the forward three to make space for the late runners from midfield.

To make it a complete performance from the Spaniard, Cazorla was also the man making those late runs from midfield after being influential in the build-up to the majority of moves that Arsenal constructed. His hat-trick consisted of three well taken finishes in penalty box after darting movements that were difficult to pick-up. For the smallest man on the pitch, he even manoeuvred himself into enough space to score a diving header.

Cazorla conducted Arsenal brilliantly, and seems to be increasingly developing an understanding with Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Lukas Podolski. Arsenal's fourth goal in particular just oozed quality. The team attacked at pace, with Wilshere and Podolski playing key roles before giving Cazorla a simple finish.

It does raise the question as to why they couldn't produce similar football last week against Bradford - but that match is confined to the past. The team needed to react with a strong performance, and they did. The fourth goal was made to look so easy, and to have Arsenal scoring goals like that again can only be good going into the festive season.

It was disappointing, and nerve-wracking, to see Arsenal concede two cheap goals, particularly the first one, but they got themselves out of the wobble in the second half by getting control of the ball and confidently passing it around again. It was a vote of confidence in Wenger from the players.

For what feels like the first time in a long time, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Even though victory came against the bottom club in the Premier League, Arsenal's confidence could have been at an all-time low after the Bradford defeat, so to see the team play with swagger was reassuring, and showed that there are some mentally strong players in the squad.

With Cazorla orchestrating things in midfield, Arsenal can go into the Christmas period knowing things will get better... if Santi keeps delivering.

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