Reading v Arsenal (20:00 GMT)
This won't be a repeat of the 7-5 Arsenal win we saw when these two sides met in the Capital One Cup, or at least I wouldn't have thought so.
Gervinho struggled up front for Arsenal as they crashed out of the Capital One Cup.
I was at Valley Parade on Tuesday to watch Bradford knock the Gunners out of that competition and the most telling thing about the way Arsene Wenger's men played was that it took them 60-odd minutes to force Bantams keeper Matt Duke into a save.
In other areas of their play, Arsenal were not actually all that that bad. The movement and the passing from the back through the middle was really good but it is just the final ball they are missing at the moment.
Their crossing was poor all night and Gervinho looked like he did not want to be there.
I don't think Wenger needs to perform major surgery on his side but they need a fulcrum in their team - somebody up front they can play up to and through.
"Arsene Wenger has earned the right to be given a go at improving his team in the transfer market when the window opens in January. He needs a couple of players and, if he needs to pay over the odds to get them, then he has to do it. It's January, and that's what happens. It might go against Wenger's principles but it is worth it if those two new players help to get them in the Champions League next season. What he needs more than anything, though, are characters because I don't think he's got enough in his team at the moment."
Against Bradford they also needed somebody who would grab hold of them and say 'we need to fight for this and earn the right to play the way we can'.
For the first part of that problem they obviously miss Robin van Persie, who is an absolute class player. Of course him going to Manchester United in the summer was a blow.
But, in terms of a midfield presence, the departure of Alex Song to Barcelona in the summer has left a big hole. Song was unspectacular but good at what he did, and he gave their creative players a platform.
Reading will look to cause them more problems. They did not really turn up against Sunderland in midweek, which was most unusual because they have always been competitive this season, and very rarely have they been as easily turned over.
Wenger seriously needs a positive result and I think he will get one. The win will not come without a fight, though.
Prediction: 0-2
Originally Posted by GB.
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