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Coppell: ready for Gunners

Coppell: ready for Gunners


Coppell: ready for Gunners

Reading boss Steve Coppell has insisted that he will be proud of his players - even if they are beaten 4-0 again as they were last season - by the Gunners. Reading, who were brilliant last season, have not been as impressive this year, and Coppell feels that this game is coming at the wrong time.

Coppell said: "You have to try to appreciate the bigger picture, where you are at and what you are achieving. I am fortunate here in that it is our second season in the top division in 138 years. We are making history every week so from that point of view I am proud of the general achievement.

"But if you lose it is painful. From what I am told, Arsene Wenger when he loses is not much fun to be around. As for Sir Alex (Ferguson), I can only imagine what it is like when he does."

Coppell admitted the fixture's timing had also been playing on his mind a little.

He said: "It's always funny playing on a Monday as your body clock tells you Saturday is the day to aim for and you have to push everything back.

"But we have an international break afterwards so it doesn't jam our week up for the next game so there is no real problem - although we also have longer to contemplate the opposition."