McDermott: Wenger’s record makes good reading

Reading boss Brian McDermott has played down the significance of Arsenal’s trophy drought as he plotted to extend it in his first meeting with his former club tonight.

Former Gunners midfielder McDermott hailed opposite number Arsene Wenger’s “phenomenal achievement” of leading the club into the Champions League for 15 consecutive seasons, backing the Frenchman’s claim it was the equivalent of winning silverware.

The latter is something Arsenal have not done in seven increasingly-agonising years, a run McDermott is determined to lengthen in their Capital One Cup fourth-round clash tonight.