Reading have made an impressive start to their first season in the top flight.
The Royals have already picked up four wins from their opening eight games as well as a creditable draw against Manchester United and now sit eighth in the Premiership table.
Arsenal's visit to the Madejski Stadium rounds off a tough trilogy for the home side after consecutive visits of United, Chelsea and now Arsène Wenger's young side.
If previous encounters are a guide, the upper hand will lie firmly with Arsenal. Although the teams have met on just five occasions, the results have always been the same.
The teams have never met in the League, but in three FA Cup encounters and two League Cup clashes Arsenal have always emerged victorious.
Arsenal's record against Reading P W D L F A 5 5 0 0 10 2ARSENAL 3-0 READING
League Cup Fourth Round
November 29, 2005
Reading were running away with the Championship title and their
visit to Highbury to face an inexperienced Arsenal side bore all
the hallmarks of a possible upset. The Arsenal team rose to the
occasion however and goals from Jose Antonio Reyes, Robin van
Persie and Arturo Lupoli sent us through.
READING 1-3 ARSENAL
FA Cup Third Round
January 10, 1987
Arsenal kicked off their FA Cup campaign with a visit to
Reading's Elm Park. A brace from Charlie Nicholas and a single
goal from Martin Hayes eased us into the next round. Arsenal were
ultimately eliminated at the Quarter-Final stage at home to
Watford.
READING 1-2 ARSENAL
FA Cup Fourth Round
February 5, 1972
A 2-0 Third-Round away win against Swindon Town paired us with
Reading in the following round. An own goal and a strike from Pat
Rice sealed Reading's fate as the Gunners progressed all the
way to Wembley where they were narrowly beaten by Leeds United.
ARSENAL 1-0 READING
League Cup Third Round
October 11, 1967
A single goal from Peter Simpson gave the Gunners a narrow victory
at Highbury. Arsenal progressed all the way to the Final only to
meet Leeds United who ran out 1-0 winners.
READING 0-1 ARSENAL
FA Cup Fifth Round
February 16, 1935
The teams' first meeting came after Arsenal had seen off
Brighton and Leicester City in the previous two rounds. Cliff
Bastin secured our safe passage with the only goal of the game. Our
joy was short lived however as we were knocked out in the next
round by Sheffield Wednesday.
