WINNING STREAK COMES TO AN END (QPR vs Arsenal Post Match Analysis)

Written by @Jiboye 

Best buddies...

Arsenal were away to QPR, a side deep in the relegation battle and they started the game down in 18^th place, while the Arsenal was in 3^rd place after winning our last 7 games.  However it was an away game and Wenger himself in his pre match conference said it was a tricky game and we have to be focused. Our away form despite the winning streak has been patchy but we have ground out results, so we were going to be in for a hard game at a ground where we’ve had our worst win  % in the premier league history.  20%.

Arsene started with his strongest team bar one very baffling decision to stick Rambo out to the left, in place of Gerv (he is the manager he has the information on their fitness etc so I guess he knows what he is doing). Kosc was back to partner TV5 in place of Djourou.

The game started and we seemed to be up for it, Walcott already got a free kick off Taiwo within the 1^st minute and within the first 5 minutes we had our first corner but we failed to test the QPR  keeper Kenny in all of that. QPR started getting into the game, Zamora was giving our center backs a tough afternoon and Taraabt seemed like he had a score to settle with us. (Editor Note: F*ckin Sp*d). Our first real scare came in the 12^th minute when the referee gave QPR a free kick when Arteta kicked ‘ex convict’ (Barton) in the face, the defence let shit-face Zamora have a free header unmarked in the box, but he headed over. Just a few minutes later Rosicky was robbed in midfield but Szczczczcz saved the shot well. We were loosing the ball easily and all our attacks were broken down even before they started.

QPR keeper played a long ball forward it fell to Taraabt, he skinned TV5 too easily and slotted past SZCS. 1-0.  The goal didn’t seem to wake Arsenal up, Zamora was having an easy ride, winning free kicks with ease and making any ball in the air his own. We looked shaky and rattled, Mackie was allowed to run into the box, and he was only halted by a last ditch tackle by Gibbo.

30 minutes into the match, QPR fans borrow a leaf from Arsenal fans and start ole-ing each pass their team makes, Arsenal wins the ball in midfield, Rosicky gives VanP he turns and squeezes a pass through to Walcott, Theo shoots it, hits the bar, comes straight out to him, he slots into the roof of the net.  1-1.

The goal gave the players belief and our play and passes got better. End of 1^st half.

The 2^nd half started with not much happening, Arsenal having most of the possession but no end product. Walcott skinned Taiwo but skewed his cross, then van Persie had a pop shot that was an easy save for Kenny. Taiwo handled Walcott’s cross, but van Persies’ freekick did not threaten the QPR defense, Their  defence did not really have  much to do, the midfield of Barton and Diakite was really doing a good job.

Then came the turning point in the game Song put VanP clean through, Van P failed to bury the good chance. His finish was not accurate enough and Kenny saved it. The next attack QPR have, Mackie is on the right, TV5 slips and Diakate  has all the time in the world to pick his spot from 12yards. Ramsey was immediately replaced by Gervinho.

There were 25 minutes and we needed to throw the kitchen sink at them,but the players didn’t seem like they were going to break down the QPR defence. Arsenal had a freekick which Van P hit into the wall, we brought on Chamakh and Oxo for Arteta and Gibbo. Chamakh won a couple of free kicks but we didn’t trouble the keeper with any of them. In the last 5 mins QPR countered and ‘ex convict’  had a pop from inside the box, but Szczczczcz made a wonderful save.

We lost today and full credit to QPR. They worked really hard. Please WENGER,  stop experimenting or gambling by playing Ramsey on the left side of the attack, he should please play either Ramsey or Rosicky as our central attacking midfielder and play a proper Left sided player on the left side.

Van P is missing chances so we are praying he finds his goal scoring touch again. All in all we hope this was just a blip and we would wake up against City at the Emirates next Sunday.

Chelsea won so we are now 5 points ahead of them. Sp*ds don’t play till later against Swansea. No matter the result the Sp*ds have against Swansea, this defeat would be painful, lets hope however that they lose. 

We are in a position where 3rd place is still ours to lose, hopefully we would not lose it. Let’s avoid the tricky and strenuous path to Champions’ League football next season.

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PS. What do you feel about Wenger starting both Rosicky and Ramsey? Please share your thoughts in the comment box.