Arsenal 2 Reading 0: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain double fires Gunners into EFL Cup fifth round

ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN gave Arsene Wenger a Premier League selection headache by firing two past Reading in the EFL Cup fourth round.

The Ox put the hosts ahead on 25 minutes, nipping into the box from the right wing and firing through the legs of Tyler Blackett into Ali Al Habsi's goal.

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The visitors rarely threatened but on 61 minutes Emiliano Martinez was forced to dive right and catch sub Yann Kermorgant's header.

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Olivier Giroud - subbed on for exciting young talent Jeff Reine-Adelaide - nearly doubled Arsenal's lead on 70 minutes but for a tremendous save from veteran keeper Al Habsi.

With just 12 minutes to go, Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up on a loose ball outside the box and smashed into a sea of yellow shirts - only for it to fly off a Reading foot and into the net.

The English midfielder received a rapturous applause when he was taken off a minute later.

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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• The last time these two met in the EFL Cup - formerly the League Cup - Arsenal came back from four goals down to win 7-5. This time it was a bit more run of the mill.
• One of the biggest cheers came at half time - when the announcer told 50,000 Gooners that Tottenham were trailing 1-0 to Liverpool!
• Carl Jenkinson almost marked his return to first-team action after 898 days with a rare goal in the seventh minute. The defender was picked out by Reine-Adelaide in acres of space but fired straight at Al Habsi.
• Lucas Perez is still way off the pace. The £17million striker treated the ball as if it were a bar of soap, and missed out on an assist due to a sloppy pass which was intercepted, meant for Reine-Adelaide.
  

  

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• Reine-Adelaide is one to watch. The 18-year-old cost Arsenal £2m for Lens in july 2015, and proved why tonight. His ability to turn on the ball and create chances at such a young age is outstanding.
• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proved that persistence is key. After a string of wasteful balls, the 23-year-old struck a double to win the game. He would have had three were it not for the brilliant Al Habsi.
• Reading were not afraid to try and play the kind of sharp, attacking football Jaap Stam is trying to instil in the team. Then again, the Gunners are hardly frightening compared to big Stam.
• Piers Morgan can obviously function on very little sleep. The Good Morning Britain host is live on ITV at 6am tomorrow, but was at the Emirates to cheer on his beloved Arsenal late into the night.
  

  

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• Reading looked like they were trying to play Arsenal at their own game at times - a disastrous tactic for Manchester City against Barcelona last week. With the visitors losing just 2-0, perhaps the gulf between these two is not quite as big?
• History has a way of repeating itself in this fixture. The last two times the Royals reached this stage of the competition they were eliminated by Arsenal. And in 14 matches against the Gunners they have lost EVERY time.

BIG PICTURE

WHAT THEY SAID

Arsene Wenger: "Oxlade-Chamberlain's concentration is sharper, he is more determined and he has worked very hard in training. That is now showing on the pitch

“I felt Rob Holding did well, Ainsley played some nice passes and Jeff had a good game too.

“It’s fantastic to see Carl Jenkinson back. He did well and had no fitness problems at all, which shows that he prepared well.”