Arsenal v Reading preview
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Arsenal will hope to avoid a fourth defeat on the trot when they host Reading on Saturday.
The Gunners' season has unravelled over the last fortnight as their hopes of winning a treble of cups have been obliterated.
They lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the Carling Cup final last Sunday and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Blackburn in midweek, while a 1-0 defeat to PSV Eindhoven has left their chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in the balance.
However, Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five Premiership games and Arsene Wenger will want his side to strengthen their position in the top four with victory over Reading.
Reading are just six points behind Arsenal and are still very much in the hunt for European football.
Steve Coppell's side have seen their winning run come to an end though, with defeat to Middlesbrough sandwiched between two gallant but ultimately unsuccessful FA Cup games against Manchester United.
They will also be wary of travelling to Emirates Stadium after being thumped 4-0 by Arsenal at home in October, comfortably their worst loss of the season.
Reading's chances have been boosted by Arsenal's disciplinary troubles, as Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue will all be suspended following their part in the Carling Cup fracas.
Thierry Henry is also set to miss out with a foot injury, along with Tomas Rosicky (groin), Abou Diaby (ankle), Justin Hoyte (hamstring) and Mathieu Flamini (foot).
Robin van Persie is still recovering from a broken metatarsal, but Johan Djourou could return after overcoming an ankle problem.
Jens Lehmann and midfielder Cesc Fabregas will also come back into contention after missing the defeat at Blackburn.
Coppell is likely to make changes to his Reading XI after continuing his policy of fielding reserves in the FA Cup defeat to United.
Michael Duberry and Greg Halford are available again after being cup-tied in midweek, but Dave Kitson could keep his place and make his first Premiership start since suffering a serious knee injury on the opening day of the season.
Bobby Convey and Ibrahima Sonko are both long-term absentees due to knee injuries.
My prediction: 3-1 to Arsenal
Arsenal to return to winning ways despite their injury problems.
Player to watch: Theo Walcott
(edited: forget Thierry Henry is injured.. Thanks ghimpheng..) -
did you read the preview properly ?
henry is already out injured and yet you put player to watch : Henry -
arsenal to lose again.
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enough of losing!!Originally posted by dragg:arsenal to lose again.
Arsenal to win this one but as usual,reading will score first. im sick of this pattern. -
uhm judging by e current odds,
i tink Gunners will win
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i hope we lose
den we can see more ranting instead of we turn the corner and den be complacent -
Gunner can start all the youngster, now all of them blood r boiling and sure can get the result.