Arsenal have a number of injury problems as they prepare to host a Reading side under the management of new boss Nigel Adkins.
Arsene Wenger will be without England duo Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Theo Walcott (hip/thigh).
Midfielder Abou Diaby is also absent after being ruled out for nine months with anterior cruciate ligament damage in his left knee.
Left-back Kieran Gibbs will be assessed after being laid low by a virus but forward Lukas Podolski (ankle) and right-back Bacary Sagna (knee) should be available again, while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and captain Thomas Vermaelen are eyeing recalls.
New Reading manager Adkins will have striker Pavel Pogrebnyak available after a three-match suspension.
Former Gunners trainee Stuart Taylor is likely to again deputise for goalkeeper Adam Federici, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury.
Attacking midfielder Jimmy Kebe continues to battle against a groin problem and forward Jason Roberts (hip) remains sidelined.
