On the back on a decent performance against Everton, Arsenal were expected to rotate the squad with the big clash against United on the horizon. Players like Alexis and Ozil were expected to be rested.
A big boost in the team news was the return of Ramsey to the squad having been out with a hamstring injury. He was not expected to start as he had just returned from injury, but with the unsure status of Coquelin meant anything was possible.
Ospina started as expected, but the surprise was the return of Mertesacker to the starting XI in place of Koscielny who was probably rested with the big game up next. Gabriel started for the 2nd game in running. Bellerin and Gibbs continued as fullbacks.
Coquelin surprisingly started after being handed a face mask to protect his broken nose. Ozil and Santi started with Alexis and Rosicky on the flanks. Giroud started upfront.
1ST HALF
QPR started the brighter side with some high intensity pressing forcing Arsenal sidewards and backwards. QPR even had some decent possession. They got the first chance of the match as well with in form Charlie Austin volleying an attempt fortunately for us, straight at Ospina after a knock down by Zamora.
We struggled to have any sort of impact as Austin had a second chance. He turned Coquelin first and then had an attempt that whistled past the post with Ospina well beaten. The players needed some sort of inspiration.
We were dealt a further blow when Gabriel injured his hamstring midway through the half ending up in Koscielny replacing him.
The first chance eventually came. Cazorla combined beautifully with Giroud to have a volley that just lacked the required amount of power. This chance came at close to the end of the first half. We probably needed that break very badly.
2ND HALF
Arsenal started the 2nd half very brightly. Our teenager Rosicky just sprinting past every QPR player before cutting the ball across to Ozil. Ozil coul not connect to the ball, replays showed he was tugged back by Karl Henry and that really should have been a penalty. Both Austin and Zamora were invisible.
Probably the hosts had lost a lot of energy with all the pressing. Alexis started targeting tennage fullback Furlong and two further attempts both off target.
QPR's first chance in the second half fell to Matt Phillips, who had a strong attempt on volley that just flew past the post.
Arsenal took the lead through Giroud. A superb counter attack starting from Arsenal's box involving first Cazorla, then Ozil and finally Alexis. Alexis held the ball up before feeding Gibbs, after a scuffle Giroud finished with a shot that went under Green.
Alexis then forced a good save from Green. Sanchez should have then second after some impressive pressing by both him and Giroud meant Caulker lost the ball and Sanchez was through on goal. Sanchez unsure about whether to shoot or pass wide to Rosicky ended up losing the ball.
Sanchez did score after some impressive work. He scored at the near post some what similar to the goal he had scored against Stoke. A goal that broke a 7 game goal scoring drought. Much needed as well for the little Chilean.
Arsenal could have had a third. Rosicky's attempt from a cutback was blocked and Ozil with a superb bit of skill got the ball to his right foot having sent Henry to Mars, had an attempt that Green saved with the help of the post.
What's an Arsenal match without any tension though? Austin scoring superbly to pull one QPR goal back and put up a nervous finish as always for an Arsenal fan. We managed to see through the game and get a vital 3 points on a day that saw all of the top 6 win.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (7): Made a good save in the first half and was OK.
39: Hector Bellerin (8): Excellent performance by the RB again. His pace seems a great outlet for us.
5: Gabriel Paulista (7): Started brightly, dominating Zamora aerially before ending up injured unfortunately.
4: Per Mertesacker (7.5): Was needed to be alert aerially and he was. A good commanding performance for a change.
3: Kieran Gibbs (7.5): Had a good game on both sides of the pitch. Needs to maintain form now.
34: Francis Coquelin (8): Was excellent once again. Winning so many tackles and making interceptions as usual. We seem so dependent on him right now.
19: Santi Cazorla (7.5): Was pretty good. 95 percent pass completion and did his fair bit of defensive job as well.
17: Alexis Sanchez (7.5): A performance of 2 halfs. Dismal in the first and brilliant in the second. Lifted himself in the second half and could have even scored a hattrick. Got a goal to end his drought also which is good news for us.
7: Tomas Rosicky (7.5): Same like Alexis, struggled in the first half but excellent in the second. An energetic performance by our teenager!
11: Mesut Ozil (8): Did not need a goal or assist to show how good a game he had. Stunning display to shut the haters. Some neat tricks and wonderful passes capped his performance up.
12: Olivier Giroud (7.5): Yet another goal. Much needed as we struggled to get past their defence.
SUBSTITUTES:
6: Laurent Koscielny (6.5): Could he have done better on their goal? He should have atleast tried.
23: Danny Welbeck (N/A): Hardly had time to make an impact.
16: Aaron Ramsey (N/A): Great to have him back.
HIGHLIGHTS
A big boost in the team news was the return of Ramsey to the squad having been out with a hamstring injury. He was not expected to start as he had just returned from injury, but with the unsure status of Coquelin meant anything was possible.
Ospina started as expected, but the surprise was the return of Mertesacker to the starting XI in place of Koscielny who was probably rested with the big game up next. Gabriel started for the 2nd game in running. Bellerin and Gibbs continued as fullbacks.
Coquelin surprisingly started after being handed a face mask to protect his broken nose. Ozil and Santi started with Alexis and Rosicky on the flanks. Giroud started upfront.
1ST HALF
QPR started the brighter side with some high intensity pressing forcing Arsenal sidewards and backwards. QPR even had some decent possession. They got the first chance of the match as well with in form Charlie Austin volleying an attempt fortunately for us, straight at Ospina after a knock down by Zamora.
We struggled to have any sort of impact as Austin had a second chance. He turned Coquelin first and then had an attempt that whistled past the post with Ospina well beaten. The players needed some sort of inspiration.
We were dealt a further blow when Gabriel injured his hamstring midway through the half ending up in Koscielny replacing him.
The first chance eventually came. Cazorla combined beautifully with Giroud to have a volley that just lacked the required amount of power. This chance came at close to the end of the first half. We probably needed that break very badly.
2ND HALF
Arsenal started the 2nd half very brightly. Our teenager Rosicky just sprinting past every QPR player before cutting the ball across to Ozil. Ozil coul not connect to the ball, replays showed he was tugged back by Karl Henry and that really should have been a penalty. Both Austin and Zamora were invisible.
Probably the hosts had lost a lot of energy with all the pressing. Alexis started targeting tennage fullback Furlong and two further attempts both off target.
QPR's first chance in the second half fell to Matt Phillips, who had a strong attempt on volley that just flew past the post.
Arsenal took the lead through Giroud. A superb counter attack starting from Arsenal's box involving first Cazorla, then Ozil and finally Alexis. Alexis held the ball up before feeding Gibbs, after a scuffle Giroud finished with a shot that went under Green.
Alexis then forced a good save from Green. Sanchez should have then second after some impressive pressing by both him and Giroud meant Caulker lost the ball and Sanchez was through on goal. Sanchez unsure about whether to shoot or pass wide to Rosicky ended up losing the ball.
Sanchez did score after some impressive work. He scored at the near post some what similar to the goal he had scored against Stoke. A goal that broke a 7 game goal scoring drought. Much needed as well for the little Chilean.
Arsenal could have had a third. Rosicky's attempt from a cutback was blocked and Ozil with a superb bit of skill got the ball to his right foot having sent Henry to Mars, had an attempt that Green saved with the help of the post.
What's an Arsenal match without any tension though? Austin scoring superbly to pull one QPR goal back and put up a nervous finish as always for an Arsenal fan. We managed to see through the game and get a vital 3 points on a day that saw all of the top 6 win.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (7): Made a good save in the first half and was OK.
39: Hector Bellerin (8): Excellent performance by the RB again. His pace seems a great outlet for us.
5: Gabriel Paulista (7): Started brightly, dominating Zamora aerially before ending up injured unfortunately.
4: Per Mertesacker (7.5): Was needed to be alert aerially and he was. A good commanding performance for a change.
3: Kieran Gibbs (7.5): Had a good game on both sides of the pitch. Needs to maintain form now.
34: Francis Coquelin (8): Was excellent once again. Winning so many tackles and making interceptions as usual. We seem so dependent on him right now.
19: Santi Cazorla (7.5): Was pretty good. 95 percent pass completion and did his fair bit of defensive job as well.
17: Alexis Sanchez (7.5): A performance of 2 halfs. Dismal in the first and brilliant in the second. Lifted himself in the second half and could have even scored a hattrick. Got a goal to end his drought also which is good news for us.
7: Tomas Rosicky (7.5): Same like Alexis, struggled in the first half but excellent in the second. An energetic performance by our teenager!
11: Mesut Ozil (8): Did not need a goal or assist to show how good a game he had. Stunning display to shut the haters. Some neat tricks and wonderful passes capped his performance up.
12: Olivier Giroud (7.5): Yet another goal. Much needed as we struggled to get past their defence.
SUBSTITUTES:
6: Laurent Koscielny (6.5): Could he have done better on their goal? He should have atleast tried.
23: Danny Welbeck (N/A): Hardly had time to make an impact.
16: Aaron Ramsey (N/A): Great to have him back.
HIGHLIGHTS