Arsenal v QPR; Premier League Match Preview

The course of any season is a long slow drudge through about 9 months of constant up and downs. For some teams the ups are more than the downs and vice versa. For Arsenal well, its just a roller coaster of chaotic harmony. This season hasn’t a sustained peak or valley – just one after the other and while I always hate a season to end – I am sort of eagerly awaiting a break from this one.

But for now, like always I will look forward to the 90 minutes of glorious frustration an Arsenal match has become (this season). Even in the bad times I just love the club, the game and the overall atmopshere of English football – especially our beloved Arsenal. So even though like many of you I am frustrated with our lack of silverware and success, I put that aside at the start of every match and just watch.

That’s how I’ll approach this match. It’s one that really should be considered a lock in terms of win. But hey, nothing is a lock is it? QPR are already relegated and have nothing to play for. They could come out and as relaxed as they can be give us a very hard time. They certainly aren’t bereft of talent are they? Or they could come out and like pretty much every match this season, stink the joint up.  While the likes of Chelsea and City have shown what bloated spending can do on the positive side of things, QPR has shown the negative side of it all.

Couple that with rotating managers and well, you have a recipe for relegation. Remember QPR only staved off the drop late late into last season.

Arsenal need to win. As much as any match they need the 3 points from this one. A loss will likely put an end to the top 4 this season. It’s not completely impossible but it sure would be damn hard as it would mean the club are dependent on others to get it done. Right now however, its solely in the Gunners hands. If they are to qualify for the Champion’s League they must be as ruthless as they can be and not look past any of the opponents that remain.

Since the loss to Tottenham, Arsenal have been one of the most consistent sides. They’ve not lost since then and they’ve allowed only 4 goals. Expand your outlook to the 2-0 loss to Manchester City and Arsenal have only lost 1 and let in 9 goals in 12 games. The form they are displaying now would’ve kept them in the title hunt but as we mentioned it’s been one up and down moment after another.

Arsenal are at the frustrating worst when they make stupid mistakes and go all flat. By flat I mean that they make their effort look labored. TDecisions are poor, passing is side to side and backwards without any purpose and the urgency goes missing. When Arsenal look brilliant, its quite the opposite. And you need only look at the first 41 minutes to see what Arsenal can do when the effort is there.

In the end the three points depends on them. It’s not down to Wenger. It’s not down to the board or any of the other things we rail about these days. It comes to the effort the players who go out there and play the match. There certainly is talent enough to do it. We’ve all seen it.  QPR is there for the taking. They’ve been absolutely horrid all season, a mishmash of talent that has never come together. More concerned with their bloated paychecks and egos than actually working together as a team. You wonder had a good manager been in charge of them what the net result would’ve been.

But that’s not our concern. The focus has to be on finishing the season on a high note. Forgetting all the crap we’ve been through. Sure we’ll all pick over the carcass of a season later. That’s what we do. For now though, it’s focus in on supporting the team. The away supporters will be as brilliant as always – that’s no doubt. The twitter faithful will be their usual mishmash of praise, angst and everything in between – and it’s all good.

I hope come 3 weeks we can lament what could’ve been with a hearty laugh and a preverbial wiping of the brow of a narrow escape. But then comes all the joy of the silly season. Woo Hoo.

Probable Lineups:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal:  Diaby (knee), Fabianski (rib), Giroud (suspended -2)

QPR: Wright-Phillips (ankle), Johnson (knee), Townsend (Test- hamstring),  Samba (Test-knee)

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Cazorla 12, Walcott 12

QPR: Taarabt 5, Remy 5

Assists Leaders:
Arsenal: Walcott 10

QPR: Taarabt 4

Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 1

QPR: 0

Goals For:
Arsenal (away): 1.4

QPR (home): 0.7

Goals Against:
Arsenal (away): 0.8

QPR (home) : 1.5

Last Five:
Arsenal: DWDWW

QPR: DLLDL

Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 30

QPR:  -27

Match Official:
Referee: Jon Moss. Matches: 20. R1 Y62. 7Pk

Broadcast Information:
US: Fox Soccer Channel: 12:30 PM

UK: ESPN UK: 17.30 GMT

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

QPR: 0