English clubs are set to clash when they meet at the EFL Cup this week. Arsenal are poised to meet Reading if they want to make it to the last eight in the EFL Cup.
The Gunners are set to host Reading at the Emirates Stadium, and they are the favourites to go ahead to the next round.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is yet to win the League Cup, and would be willing to make best use of the fine form and confidence the club is currently enjoying. Wenger has lost out in two finals, but would be bidding to make the quarterfinals when both sides clash on Tuesday.
Whenever Arsenal want to face Reading, the 2012 thriller would always be remembered. A struggling Reading squad started out thrashing Arsenal 4-0 before half time. Arsenal produced an impressive comeback. Theo Walcott scored on the stroke of half time, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny added a goal each before Walcott got the equalizer in stoppage time. A hardworking Walcott got his hat trick in the extra time. Substitute Maroune Chamakh came on to add two goals after Pavel Pogrebnyak had made it 5-5. The 12-goal thriller is one that would definitely not be forgotten anytime soon.
The 2015 FA Cup semi final clash between both sides is another recent history between both sides. Alexis Sanchez got the winner in a game that ended 2-1. The former Barcelona striker might not play this time as he is likely to get rested. Wenger would likely hand the start to ex-Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez. The Spaniard has not gotten much playtime for a player that cost the Gunners £17 million.
Perez recently got a brace and an assist in the game against Forest, and helped Mezut Ozil in the 6-0 routing of Ludograts Razgrad in the Champions League. His situation is similar to that of Eduardo Silva who moved to the Emirates in 2007 but was rarely played in the first few months in the Premier League. The player eventually made his mark. Giroud might be called on to after a long out due to injury.