Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored twice as Arsenal cruised past Reading and into the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
The Gunners made hard work of it at times against their Championship opponents but in the end it was a job well done for Arsene Wenger and his side.
Oxlade-Chamberlain set Arsenal on their way with a well-taken finish in the first half and the England midfielder smashed home a second late on to seal the win.
Arsenal beat Reading 7-5 in this competition four years ago but this was much more comfortable as they booked a place in the last eight.
The game saw Olivier Giroud came off the bench to make his first appearance in over a month and, while Lucas Perez, limped off with an ankle injury towards the end, Wenger will be pleased with a positive night at Emirates Stadium.
Youngsters Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Ainsley Maitland-Niles impressed and Carl Jenkinson made his first Arsenal appearance in over two years.
Jenkinson was back after a long lay-off with a knee injury and he almost put the home side ahead on six minutes.
The right-back burst into the area and had a low shot saved by Reading goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi before heading the rebound over the bar.
It was one-way traffic for most of the first half and Arsenal threatened again early on when Oxlade-Chamberlain shot just wide.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles curled an effort inches wide and Lucas Perez wasted a great chance to put Arsenal ahead midway through the first half.
The £17million signing sprung the offside trap, was clean through on goal but decided to square the ball for Jeff Reine-Adelaide instead of shooting and a Reading defender cleared. It summed up his disappointing start his Arsenal career.
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Reading briefly threatened at the other end when Dominic Samuel sliced a shot over but Arsenal continued to dominate and eventually went ahead on 34 minutes.
A loose pass from Al Habsi was pounced on and Oxlade-Chamberlain drove into the area and fired into the far corner.
Arsenal went into half-time ahead and were looking comfortable until Reading threw on Yann Kermorgant 10 minutes into the second half.
The former Charlton striker forced Emilio Martinez into a smart save with a header and Reading started to sense an equaliser.
Giroud came on for his first appearance in a month with a toe injury and almost put the game to bed with a powerful header that was brilliant saved by Al Habsi.
Arsenal suffered an injury blow when Perez was forced off with an ankle injury but they should have added a second when Oxlade-Chamberlain had a shot saved and substitute Chris Willock scuffed the rebound wide with the goal gaping.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain ended any doubt when his shot from range took a deflection into the net past Al Habsi.
