Pre-Match Report

Under-21s: Reading v Arsenal - Preview

Steve Gatting

Arsenal Under-21s take on Reading at Madejski Stadium tonight as they continue their search for a first league win in 2014.

Despite reaching the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup with impressive wins over Fulham and Chelsea, the Gunners' form in the league has dropped since the turn of the year.

However Steve Gatting's side can consider themselves unfortunate not to get the victories their performances have merited in recent weeks.

The Gunners dominated for long spells against Norwich at the end of January before conceding a last-minute penalty before being held to a goalless draw by Southampton last time out.

"We're looking forward to our next game at Reading and hopefully we can start to turn our good performances into victories"

Steve Gatting

"The draw with Southampton was a very hard-fought game," Gatting told Arsenal Player. "Both sides pressed well and probably cancelled each other out and lacked the real quality to score the goals.

"But I'm very pleased with the progress of the team. We're a young side. We've got three players involved from the Youth Cup side and they will be involved against Charlton so that's great for their development and the last three performances have been good.

"We're looking forward to our next game at Reading and hopefully we can start to turn our good performances into victories."

The Gunners will be confident of taking three points against the Royals, who are struggling this season. Eamonn Dolan's team have taken just 11 points from 12 games and sit second bottom in the league.

Arsenal are in 13th place but do have at least two games in hand on the teams directly above them.

We will have live tweets from Madejski Stadium from 6.55pm (UK time) on the @Arsenal account.