A daunting task faces the Royals on Saturday against an in-form Arsenal side that have tasted defeat just once in their last 12 games.

Reading have never beaten Saturday’s opponents, but Clarke has a fully fit side to choose from, with on-loan Nathan Ake and Kwesi Appiah the only players set to miss out due to being cup-tied.

The travelling Royals will head down Wembley Way more in hope than expectation, but Clarke insists his side can upset the odds and reach the final.

The Reading boss has plenty of experience in the FA Cup – winning it as a player and coach – and believes he knows what his players have to do to achieve the unthinkable.

He said: “We have to play the perfect game,” he explained. “We have to defend well, be solid, be resolute and be mentally strong.

“It’s a game where we can’t make too many mistakes. If you do against the top teams then they’ll punish you.

“We’re looking to play the perfect game and if we can do that then we’ve got a chance.

“We’ll make sure the preparation is right and that we give everything we’ve got. I promise you the players will give everything to try to get the result, that’s what we can do.

“How many times have my team played the perfect game? Probably never. So it’s a big ask, but you have to ask that.”

He continued: “I look at Arsenal’s team and they’re strong, well balanaced and winning games at the moment.

“They’ve got terrific players that can cause a lot of problems for us.

“They look really strong. They’re near the top of the table but maybe they’ve left it too late to catch Chelsea.

“We have a very good scout and the players will be made aware of every player and what they can do. It’s easier with a team like Arsenal as they’re a team players watch all the time.

“The players will know everything about Arsenal when the game comes.”

Clarke was calm and reserved throughout, revelling in the national attention that has been thrust on Reading since reaching the last four of the famous competition.

There is no doubt that the Reading boss senses an opportunity to create history at a club he’s been a part of for just over four months.

The Royals have almost gone under the radar in their run to the semi final, but now there’s a real sense that they’ve fully arrived and Clarke has urged them to grasp the opportunity to make their own history.

“These players have a chance to make history, what an incentive,” he declared. “Reading Football Club have never played in an FA Cup Final.

“It’s a great challenge for us. We’re in the semi final but that’s not unique history. It’s a shared history as there’s another Reading team that’ve done it.

“If the players get to the final then no other team has ever been there before so they’ll make that history.

“The only way to enjoy a semi final is to win the game. You can’t go to Wembley and play the occasion, we’re playing Arsenal.

“It has to be a day of work and we have to go there focused about what will happen on the pitch. The supporters can go and enjoy the day, that’s their reward for us getting there, but we’re there to do a job.”

Reading have struggled for goals in recent months, scoring just 11 times in their last 12 games, with Jamie Mackie and Pavel Pogrebnyak contributing seven of them.

Clarke accepts that it’s important Reading show their attacking intent on Saturday to put a doubt in the mind of their vastly experienced opponents.

“Arsenal will have about 60 per cent possession,” accepted the Royals boss. “But it’s what we do with our 40 per cent.

“We can’t just defend, defend, defend. It’s a long time to try to get a 0-0 so we have to be a threat. At some stage we have to show Arsenal that we can hurt them.

“My squad pretty much picks itself due to loan players that can’t play. There’ll be one or two disappointed, but that’s the life of the footballer. You can’t have too much sentiment.

“Within the team we’ve got good flexibility. The last couple of games we’ve tweaked the formation which is good as the players now have different ways of playing.

“The team’s shape in the last couple of games has been good. We just need that little spark up front.”