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The North London side used an array of stars but were still unable to avoid defeat. Sol Campbell, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour, Francis Jeffers, Kanu, Pacal Cygan, Stuart Taylor, Lauren and Edu all featured for the Gunners.
Prior to the game boss Barry Fry, a popular footballing character, was joking that his side would lose by 'just a dozen' goals should the Gunners choose to field their reserve team.
However, Nottingham-born Francis Green's cool twenty-nineth minute finish was enough to give the Posh a result that will leave Fry laughing.
The Gunners misery was compounded when goalkeeper Stuart Taylor was strechered off in a neck brace. Arsene Wenger has so far failed to capture another shotstopper following the departure of David Seaman so was no doubt alarmed at the prospect of Taylor spending a long spell on the sidelines. Wenger was however delighted to hear that his keeper's injuries weren't serious.
Reading midfield ace Andre Boucard, yet to play for the Royals first team, was at the hub of all the Posh's good play. Whatsmore, he could of given Barry Fry's side a two-goal advantage but his thirty-seventh minute long-ranger slammed just wide of the mark.
The creative midfielder is on loan at the Posh for the first month of the campaign. However, that loan deal could be extended by boss Alan Pardew for two further months, or even for the rest of the season.
But with Boucard yesterday being allocated the number eighteen shirt for the coming campaign, it appears the 18-year-old could yet have a major role to play in the Reading first team this season.
The London born youngster first made a name for himself at the end of last season at, ironically, London Road, during another loan spell with Peterborough. Boucard's attacking guile enabled the Posh to gain some superb end of season results to dispel any lingering worries about relegation.
The highlight of the loan tenure was a masterful performance against Notts County in which Boucard made a mockery of former Royals Darren Caskey. Caskey ended up heading for an early bath after steamrollering the sprightly Boucard down, frustrated at being unable to get the better of the youngster.
Boucard eventually left the field two-minutes from time yesterday, to a rapturous reception. Reading should be proud to have a young player capable of so much despite his tender years.