Reading defender Paul McShane has described Tuesday night's EFL Cup clash against Arsenal as a "bonus game" in which his side have nothing to lose.
The Royals ended a four-game winless streak to move within one point of the Championship playoff places at the weekend, while Arsenal's seven-match winning streak came to an end courtesy of a goalless draw with Middlesbrough.
McShane acknowledged that the league remains his side's priority, but has not given up on the idea of upsetting Arsene Wenger's men at the Emirates.
"As a player, you want to be playing against big clubs like Arsenal week in, week out in the Premier League... so the league has got to be a priority. But that makes Tuesday night's match a bonus game," he told the club's official website.
"And it's not impossible. If you can get a good cup run and win a few games, suddenly you're in a semi-final and then a final - and if you win a cup, the club talks about it for years and years to come. We can play good stuff as we've seen this season, so let's go and test ourselves against the best.
"Arsenal are a very good side, obviously - they had won seven on the bounce before the weekend. But it will be a good test for everyone. The shackles are off. We'll go and enjoy the game, and everything is possible. The cups have got to be secondary this season. We had a good cup run last season but we fell off the edge of a cliff in the league - and the league is your bread and butter. The league is where you are successful."
Reading reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last season.
Barney Corkhill
