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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger warns Reading will cause problems at Wembley

Arsene Wenger: Expecting Reading to make it tough for Arsenal in FA Cup semi-final
Image: Arsene Wenger: Expecting Reading to make it tough for Arsenal in FA Cup semi-final

Arsene Wenger will remind his players of last year's Wembley near miss ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Reading.

The holders face Championship opposition in the last four for the second season running, and 12 months ago they needed a late equaliser and a penalty shoot-out to see off Wigan.

Wenger is expecting a similarly stern test from Reading, whose squad still includes several players from their most recent season in the Premier League.

He said: "We know that it is always tricky. We have learnt from Wigan last year. The urgency level will be quite high in our team.

"Reading have many players who have the experience in the Premier League. They have a very efficient style - they go a lot for crosses, so for us they can be a danger going forward."

Wojciech Szczesny will be back in goal at Wembley as Wenger continues his policy of rotating goalkeepers between the cups and the league, but the manager would not say whether he plans to make outfield changes.

Jack Wilshere is available after injury, while the likes of Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky have been marginalised during Arsenal's eight-game winning run in the league.

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"It’s not a game that I look at as an opportunity for some individual players," Wenger said. "It’s just an opportunity to go to the final. I will pick the team that, in my opinion, has the best chance to win the game.

"I’m concerned about finding a collective balance. That can include some of these players or not, but honestly, I haven’t decided who will start the game on Saturday.

"Everybody feels that it’s difficult to get in the team. All the players have top, top quality. Of course it’s difficult for me as well to make these kind of decisions."

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