Reading v Arsenal – 13 things you ought to know

Arsenal face Championship side Reading in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley tomorrow evening.

The Gunners are undoubtedly hot favourites to make it to the final, but stranger things have happened in the past and an underdog – in this case Reading – should never be underestimated in a one-off game.

So, courtesy of OPTA, here are 13 match facts and stats about both sides before they clash tomorrow:

1. Reading have never reached an FA Cup final.

2. The Royals have only lost three of their last eight FA Cup meetings against teams from higher divisions (W4, D1) – although they are yet to face one this year.

3. In their five FA Cup matches this season, Reading have conceded just two goals.

4. Reading have failed to record a win in their last six Championship games (D3, L3).

5. Steve Clarke’s side have only won two of their last 13 Championship games, suffering seven defeats in that time.

6. Hal Robson-Kanu has been in fine form for Reading in the FA Cup this season, scoring three goals in his last four appearances in the competitions. Though the Wales international has only scored one in 28 Championship games.

7. Yakubu has a decent scoring record against the Gunners, firing in five for his previous clubs.

8. Arsenal have a 100% winning record from their previous 12 meetings with Reading – three in the FA Cup, three in the League Cup and six in the Premier League. They have scored 37 goals in those games – an average of more than three per match.

9. Arsenal will be competing in their 10th semi-final in the last 18 seasons – they have won six of the nine they have competed in under Arsene Wenger.

10. This will be Arsenal’s 28th semi-final appearance (W18, L9), which is a record for an English club, and they are on course for a record 12th title.

11. The last time Arsenal lost an FA Cup semi-final to a team from outside the top flight was in 1973, this coming against Sunderland.

12. Wenger’s side have lost just one of their last 38 FA Cup games against a lower league side (W29, D8, L1).

13. The nine goals they’ve scored in this season’s FA Cup have been scored by eight different players – only Olivier Giroud has two.