Team News: Lucas Perez one of nine changes for Arsenal in EFL Cup fourth round

Arsene Wenger has made nine changes to Arsenal's starting lineup for this evening's visit of Reading in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

The only survivors from the goalless draw with Middlesbrough here three days ago are Mohamed Elneny and Alex Iwobi, as Wenger makes full use of his squad depth.

Youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles starts alongside Elneny in a deep-lying midfield role, while Carl Jenkinson makes his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt in 898 days.

Wenger has brought summer signing Lucas Perez back into the team to lead the line - the Spaniard, who has not featured from the off since his brace against Nottingham Forest in the last round, preferred to returning striker Olivier Giroud this evening.

In terms of the visitors, who have lost all 13 previous encounters with today's opponents, manager Jaap Stam has made five alterations from the slender win over Rotherham United at the weekend - their first victory in five games.

Tennai Watson, Tyler Blackett, George Evans, Callum Harriot and Dominic Samuel all come in for the suspended Chris Gunter, Danny Williams, John Swift, Roy Beerens and Yann Kermorgant.

Arsenal are looking to prolong their unbeaten run in all competitions this evening, having gone 12 without defeat since their opening-game loss to Liverpool on home soil.

Arsenal: Martinez, Jenkinson, Holding, Gabriel, Gibbs, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Ox, Jeff, Iwobi, Lucas Subs: Macey, Bola, Bielik, Sheaf, Zelalem, Willock, Giroud

Reading: Al-Habsi, Watson, Obita, Moore, Blackett, Kelly, Van den Berg, Evans, McCleary, Harriott, Samuel Subs: Moore, Swift, Wieser, Kermorgant, Meite, Quinn, Gravenberch