A run of three straight defeats -- the north London club's worst spell of form since October 2002, 263 matches ago -- has ended Arsene Wenger's interest in the FA Cup, dashed his dream of winning his first ever League Cup and jeopardised his chances of progress in the Champions League.

With the league title already out of reach, another unfulfilling campaign looms.

Arsenal have suffered from a raft of injuries, which threaten to deprive them of six first team players for the encounter with Reading, while the unseemly brawl which marred the end of last weekend's League Cup final against Chelsea has led to the suspensions of Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue.

But a more pressing concern for Wenger is a notable lack of cutting edge which could yet endanger their chances of securing a top-four finish.

Arsenal have scored one goal in their last four matches and key personnel have stuttered just when Wenger needs them to be at their smoothest.

Thierry Henry has scored just once since January 21, while Cesc Fabregas has been one of the most high-profile examples of the club's recent indiscipline.

The young Spanish midfielder rowed publicly with Mark Hughes, the Blackburn manager, at the end of the clubs' first FA Cup meeting, and was then lucky to escape with just a yellow card after becoming embroiled in a shoving match with Frank Lampard in Cardiff last weekend.

It is indicative of the immaturity of Wenger's gifted, but occasionally graceless, young side. And one of their senior colleagues, Gilberto Silva, has called for a more measured approach in the coming weeks.

"I will speak to the young players and try to lift them because for them it is even more difficult," said the Brazilian midfielder.

"It is frustrating for them and hard because they are being made to carry all the responsibility for losing big games. But we need to stick together at this very important time and that applies to everyone -- the young guys and also the older players. That is the only way that we can change our position.

"The last few games have been very frustrating and disappointing and the coming days won't be easy for us. We have to carry on because we have huge games coming up but it's hard because we only have a few days to save the rest of our season."

Arsenal may have produced one of their most exhilarating performances of the season in defeating Reading 4-0 in October, but the Royals will not be obliging opponents at the Emirates stadium.

Steve Coppell's side have already bloodied the noses of several members of the Premiership aristocracy -- including Manchester United and Chelsea -- and in Steve Sidwell they have a player who will be particularly desperate to impress.

Sidwell started his career as a youngster at Arsenal but Wenger decided not to award him a contract.

"It will be a special game," he said. "I'll always remember it as the best time of my life, but I had a new start at Reading and it's been fantastic.

"If we go there and take confidence from all our games this year then hopefully we can come away with a point -- or all three."