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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 on Tuesday night.
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 what has been seven increasingly-agonising years, a run McDermott was determined to lengthen in their Capital One Cup fourth-round clash.
Kind words: Brian McDermott had high praise for Arsene Wenger
'We'll do our best to progress,' he said.
'We'll plan, we'll prepare, and then we'll see what the game brings.'
Wenger and the Arsenal board have come under fire for the club's lack of tangible success, with their own fans become increasingly restless.
But McDermott said: 'The big thing for the top teams is to qualify for the Champions League and Arsene Wenger's done that over the last - what - 14 years.
'In his early years, he won so many trophies.
'I'm sure they want to win trophies - of course they do - but they always qualify for the Champions League, which is a phenomenal achievement in itself.'
McDermott, who started his playing career at Arsenal in 1977, has never faced them since leaving the club in 1984.
'It's my first time as a first-team manager playing against them,' he said.
'I really had a good time there and the way they do things there and the way they conduct themselves, the word I'd use is class - they've got a real class about them.
'I'm looking forward to it, really looking forward to it.
'I was lucky, really, to be brought up at a fantastic club like that.'
Back in the day: McDermott is facing his old side
Unlike Arsenal, the Royals have had their fair share of silverware in the past seven years, twice winning the npower Championship.
But they cannot buy a Barclays Premier League win since their latest promotion last summer.
McDermott said: 'If you wanted to have that concern, you could've had it last year when we were bottom of the league after six, seven games.'
Wenger called McDermott a miracle-worker in return ahead of the clash at the Majeski Stadium.
He admires the success achieved by McDermott on a limited budget and believes he has the skill to keep the Royals in the top flight.
Last season's npower Championship winners have yet to win in the league, but are one victory away from a place in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals.
'Reading have made appointments from within the club well over the years,' Wenger said.
'You have to congratulate Brian McDermott for promotion last year, I believe he made a miracle basically.
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'When you get to the Premier League, the level of expectation is to stay and I feel they have a chance. McDermott has the qualities to achieve that.
'We expect a challenge and we know Reading will give absolutely everything when they play against us.
'Reading have done very well in their scouting. They are one of the examples of a club not spending money and living within their resources.
'I always respect that. There is some quality work behind their success.'
Arsenal's trip to the Madejski Stadium continues a busy spell that includes Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday and Schalke, 2-0 winners in north London last week, the following Thursday.
Wenger will field a blend of youth and experience against Reading as the Gunners seek to reach the last eight of the league cup for a 10th successive year.
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'Some players need a breather because they had two international games, Champions League and Premier League games,' he said.
'They will have played five games in two weeks. Some will be rested tomorrow. After that I will see after tomorrow night.
'We will still have an experienced side out with players from the squad.
'We will go to Reading with a good team who will have a good chance to win the game.
'We fight as hard as we can to stay in all the competitions and if you have to make a choice you make it as late as possible.
'The Capital One Cup is in a period where you have to make a decision sometimes as it is a time when we also have the League and the Champions League.'
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