Struggling Championship side Reading take on second place Premier League side Arsenal later today in the first of this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final fixtures.
The Gunners are the current FA Cup holders and go into this game as overwhelming favourites, but Steve Clarke’s Reading side have looked good at times in the cup competition and can be dangerous on the counter attack.
Team news
Reading Manager Steve Clarke rested a number of first team players for the game against Bournemouth in mid-week and will be expected to bring them all back into contention for today’s game.
Pavel Pogrebnyak is an injury worry for the Royals, but should be fit in time to make the squad. Nathaniel Chalobah also faces a late fitness test.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mikel Arteta are the only two players who miss out on the game today, with both still nursing injuries.
Besides the two midfielders, Arsenal have the luxury of a fully fit team to choose from and Mathieu Debuchy could be brought into the starting lineup.
Probable lineups
Neither side will rest any players and it is more than likely that we are set to see the strongest possible players from each squad.
Reading (4-4-2) Federici; Gunter, Hector, Pearce, Obita; McCleary, Norwood, Williams, Robson-Kanu; Cox, Pogrebnyak
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Szczesny; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Cazorla, Coquelin; Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud
What the Managers have had to say
Steve Clarke: “I know that if we play the perfect game, then we have a chance to go through. If you make mistakes in possession and give the ball away to Arsenal they will punish you. If you make silly mistakes in and around your own box they have got players that will capitalise on those chances.
“Maybe in the Championship you can make two or three mistakes in a game and the opposition are not quite good enough to take those chances. But you know if you make them against a top team they will take them – and we have to be aware of that.
“I’d love to have 60% possession but you have to be realistic. Arsenal are going to have more of the ball than us, so we have to have a good defensive shape. Press at the right time and win the ball back, and when we win it back we have to show that we can be a threat, because if we don’t show we can be a threat, then for them it is a free afternoon. There is no threat and they can attack and attack and attack.”
Arsene Wenger: “It’s not a game that I look at as an opportunity for some individual players, it’s just an opportunity to go to the final,” said Wenger. “I will pick the team that, in my opinion, has the best chance to win the game.
“I’m concerned about finding a collective balance. That can include some of these players or not, but honestly, I haven’t decided who will start the game on Saturday.
“Everybody feels that it’s difficult to get in the team. All the players have top, top quality. Of course it’s difficult for me as well to make these kind of decisions.
“You do not ask anybody to understand that he doesn’t play because they all deserve to play. They have to accept it and to respect the decision, that’s what you want from the players.”
Prediction
It is going to be really hotly contested and Arsenal will take Reading seriously, so there is no need to worry about complacency if you’re an Arsenal fan reading this. The Gunners will likely have too much for the Royals however and will end the fantastic run put together by Steve Clarke’s men this FA Cup campaign.
Arsenal to win 3-0.
Kick off at Wembley Stadium is at 17:20pm.
