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Tuesday, 25 October 2016

Arsenal 2-0 Reading: Oxlade-Chamberlain sends Gunners through

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fired Arsenal into the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup with both goals in a routine 2-0 win over Reading on Tuesday.

When these two sides met at the same stage four years ago, Arsenal came back from 4-0 down to win an incredible contest 7-5 after extra-time, but this encounter was a much more straightforward affair.

Arsene Wenger's men have not lost in all competitions since the opening day of the season, and they were dominant throughout at the Emirates Stadium as Oxlade-Chamberlain broke the deadlock late in the first half.


Reading are just a point off the play-offs in the Championship, but have been on a tough run of late and their hosts proved their class before the break with a string of chances culminating in the opener.

Although Arsenal had enough chances to tally a handsome score against their second-tier visitors, goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi stood firm for long periods before Oxlade-Chamberlain's deflected second put the game to bed.

Wenger was able to welcome back Olivier Giroud - who had not featured in just over a month - from injury off the bench, but Lucas Perez was withdrawn with a knock in the second half.

This trophy has continued to evade Arsenal's clutches under Wenger - finishing as runners-up in 2007 and 2011 - but they move into the last eight in fine form after this success.

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