Hleb and van Persie back in Arsenal side

Arsenal will aim to erase the memory of a midweek Champions League defeat at CSKA Moscow with their fifth Premiership victory on the bounce today.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger made changes from their last Premiership outing, a home victory over Watford, with Robin van Persie and Alexander Hleb recalled and Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott relegated to the bench.

Reading had also lost their previous fixture by the only goal as Chelsea came away with three points last week but minus hospitalised goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini.

Royals boss Steve Coppell kept faith with Stephen Hunt, whose first-minute challenge left Cech with a fractured skull, but dropped striker Leroy Lita in favour of Shane Long. Ulises de la Cruz replaced injured skipper Graeme Murty at right back.

This was the first time the two clubs had met in the league although they had played each other in the Carling Cup last season, with Arsenal winning 3-0.

Reading: Hahnemann, De la Cruz, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Ki-Hyeon, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Long, Doyle. Replacements: Stack, Gunnarsson, Little, Lita, Oster.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Gallas, Rosicky, Fabregas, Silva, Hleb, Van Persie, Henry. Replacements: Almunia, Song Billong, Clichy, Adebayor, Walcott.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).