Arsenal Predicted Starting XI To Face Reading

Arsenal’s journey takes them further into the EFL Cup, where they will face Reading. Here is the team that Arsene Wenger figures to roll out.

Arsenal are coming off a rather questionable draw to Middlesbrough at home at the Emirates in which a lot of frustrations came to the forefront. Namely, the complete and utter lack of a plan B when Alexis Sanchez gets a bit rambunctious up front.

Related: Arsene Wenger’s Top 15 Most Ridiculous Transfer Rumors

Lucas Perez was brought in, but he provided very little uplift. It was clear who was actually needed – Olivier Giroud. However, the heavily bearded Frenchman is suffering from a malignant toe and is only just now returning to health.

Which could be timed pretty perfectly, considering the Reading foe on the horizon. Reading should not be any trouble for even the rotational Gunner’s side. There’s no reason why a compilation of Wenger’s young and promising up-and-comers meshed with a couple experienced guys can’t put them away.

Especially considering that in his recent team update, Wenger admitted that Giroud should play, which has me tickled every shade of pink. I cannot wait to see our hulking striker back out there, hungrier than ever. A hungry Giroud is a scary thing.

This side took care of Nottingham Forest without much difficulty, so Reading should be in the same boat. Wenger filled in a lot of the blanks with the starting XI that we will see, but we’ve gone ahead and filled out the team sheet.

Keeper: Emiliano Martinez

Wenger didn’t come out and say that Emi would be back in goal, but it’s clearly his competition. He needs to start making headway towards his claim of being the next great Arsenal keeper because when Cech finally does retire, the allure of giving it to someone younger than 30 will weigh in his favor.

Let’s get into the outfield players, starting with the fullbacks.