Showing posts with label QPR vs Arsenal. Show all posts

Interview : Wojciech Szczesny says Spurs lack quality to finish above Arsenal

6th May 2013 by Gordon @Arsenal_Supremo


Wojciech Szczesny spoke after the hard fought 1 0 win at QPR to continue their push for the Champions League places. Theo Walcott scored the fastest goal in the Premier League this season scoring after just 20 seconds and Szczesny was full of praise for the player which you can see in the interview below. 

He also had a dig at Arsenal's North London Rivals Spurs who he claims lack quality to finish above Arsenal.

“I only found out after the game that they had won 1-0 but I don’t think it matters really.

“If we win our next two games it will be enough because either Chelsea or Spurs will drop points because they play each other.

“If you look at Chelsea’s fixtures, they have Tottenham and Everton left and they won’t be easy games.

“And Tottenham do not have enough quality, so there you go...”

QPR 0 Arsenal 1 Match Report Match Reaction & Highlights

4th May 2013 by Jeff @ArsenalTrend 


Theo Walcott fired the fastest Premier League goal of the season as Arsenal moved back up to third place with a 1-0 victory at relegated QPR on Saturday.England winger Walcott struck after just 20 seconds to help Arsene Wenger's side establish a two-point gap ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea, 24 hours before Rafael Benitez's side travel to Manchester United.


The Gunners were given a late scare when keeper Wojciech Szczesny was forced into a save from Loic Remy, but otherwise this was a comfortable step towards qualifying for the Champions League via a top-four finish.For QPR, there was only more disappointment following a painful week after last weekend's relegation at Reading as they slipped to the bottom of the table.

Tottenham's late victory over Southampton meant Arsenal had slipped back to fifth spot by the time they kicked off, but the news from White Hart Lane provided extra motivation for Wenger's men. They were ahead in quick time after unpicking the Rangers defence with a deceptively simple move that was capped by Walcott's right-footed finish for his 20th goal of the season.

The home side had touched the ball just once before Tomas Rosicky's right wing cross found Aaron Ramsey who headed down into the path of Mikel Arteta.The midfielder feigned to shoot, wrong-footing centre back Clint Hill, then slipped the ball to Walcott breaking inside the area and the winger's shot was powerful enough to find the net despite the efforts of keeper Robert Green.

Walcott had scored after just two minutes against Manchester United last time out but the Gunners had been unable to hold onto the lead with the newly crowned champions recovering to force a draw.This time, though, they were facing a side recently condemned to the Championship and the pattern of the first half suggested they were unlikely to suffer a similar disappointment. Arsenal were in complete control and should have added a second long before the interval.

In the 26th minute, Walcott produced a shot on the turn that struck the woodwork and would have led to the visitors' second had Rosicky followed up with more determination. QPR offered little by way of response and their efforts were summed up when Remy shot wastefully wide from 35 yards when he had team-mates in support. Park Ji-Sung did little better when he found space inside the Arsenal penalty area only to send his effort high over Szczesny's crossbar.


Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes had led the inquests into the club's failure to stay out of the bottom three this season, condemning the efforts of some of the expensive recruits as unacceptable and there was little during the opening 45 minutes to suggest the chairman's view was misguided. Harry Redknapp attempted to spark his side into life with the half-time introduction of Shaun Derry for the unimpressive Stephane Mbia. The changes appeared to have the desired effect as QPR finally showed signs they could yet go down fighting.


Andros Townsend tested the Arsenal goalkeeper with a powerful 25-yard shot that Szczesny was forced to punch away. The revival didn't last however, and it was Green who was by far the busier keeper as the second half progressed. The England international, recalled in place of Julio Cesar who was missing from the home squad after a week in which he has been linked with a move to Arsenal, was twice called into action, first to deny Santi Cazorla and then yet another effort from Walcott. Arsenal maintained control and apart from Remy's effort, they secured the points with ease.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said was quick to acknowledge it was not an easy game at the end of the game: "It was a very difficult game and the three points are absolutely vital. The focus was very good."


Two more crucial games left for Arsenal to clinch a champions league spot as its certain one of Chelsea or Spurs or even both will drop points when they both clash mid week, but Arsenal will play next in 10 days time.

Harry Redknapp:
"When you go 1-0 down to Arsenal in the first minute then you fear the worse, but I felt we played every bit as well as them.

"I felt we were always a threat and Andros Towsend was outstanding. I don't know where we'll get another Townsend from, he'll go back to Tottenham a better play.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge next season. I went to watch a (Championship) game today because we're going to be in that division next season."
Theo Walcott & Mikel Arteta Post Match Reaction 



Match Facts and Stats 

1. Theo Walcott's strike after 20 seconds is Arsenal's fastest in the Premier League era which beat Robin van Persie's deflected goal after 32 seconds for Manchester United against West Ham this season. 

2. Only five players have been subbed off more often in a single PL season than Lukas Podolski's 21 in 2012-13. 

3. Arsenal have won 10, drawn three and lost just one of their last 14 Premier League games.

4. Arsenal have now won all eleven Premier League games where they have been ahead at half-time this season.

5. Arsenal have won four in a row away from home for the first time since 2010. They haven't won five in a row since Sep 2004.

6. Match Stats FT Stats QPR v Arsenal Shots 13-12 On target 4-7, Fouls 8-9 Duels Won 43%-57%, Pass Accuracy 76%-84%, Possession 41%-59%

7. Arsenal have scored 18 goals in the final fifteen minutes of matches this campaign; the most in the division.

QPR 0 Arsenal 1 : 4th May 2013 Match Pictures

4th May 2013 by ArsenalSupremo

Theo Walcott fired the fastest Premier League goal of the season as Arsenal moved back up to third place with a 1-0 victory at relegated QPR on Saturday.England winger Walcott struck after just 20 seconds to help Arsene Wenger's side establish a two-point gap ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea, 24 hours before Rafael Benitez's side travel to Manchester United.

QPR vs Arsenal Match Preview

3rd May 2013 By Jeff @ArsenalTrend 

Match Date 04.05.13 Kick Off 17.30
Arsenal will be aiming to strengthen their top-four position as they visit Loftus Road to play relegated Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. The Gunners (18-10-7) are sandwiched between Chelsea and Tottenham in the race for Champions League qualification, but their rivals play each other in their game in hand on Wednesday evening. Without striker Olivier Giroud for this run-in, Arsene Wenger has spoken of his desire to play Lukas Podolski in a central role in the club's remaining three matches.

"He has the qualities to play through the middle, because he is a good finisher," Wenger said about his German attacker. "He has a good technique and because we have a game based on very quick combinations, I believe he can be a part of that. Overall I am convinced in the coming games he will show it. A definite decision has not been made, but if there is an opportunity then there is a good chance I will play him there."

Full Interview from Wenger Click Here

QPR (4-13-18) were relegated to the Championship last weekend, but chairman Tony Fernandes is confident the club have a plan in place to survive the drop and challenge for an immediate return to the top flight.

"We've been through who Harry wants to keep and who he is happy to let go," said Fernandes. "There are some that will want to stay, others that might want to move on. I am a positive person, so people will say I'm not being realistic, but if you go through player by player, we'll sort it out. It's not insurmountable.

"A lot of our investment has gone into building up the squad. Now we're in a position where we can trade. We weren't able to do that before - we were just buying, buying and buying. The policy was how long do we sign a player for and what kind of wages are we paying. That's all been cleared up now though. I don't think we're going to be in a bad position from that. We'll come out of it okay."

Rangers have won just twice at home all season, which is unsurprisingly the worst home record in the division. Their 14 points picked up, 12 goals scored and minus-13 goal difference are all league lows. Arsenal have gone a season-best seven games unbeaten and lost just one of the last 13. The Gunners have the best away defence in the league, with just 14 goals conceded in 17 games.

Arsenal won 1-0 when these teams met in October, with Mikel Arteta scoring a controversial offside winner six minutes from time. The Gunners have not won any of their last six visits to Loftus Road.

TEAM NEWS:

Arssenal :
Arsenal are without Lukasz Fabianski (rib) and Abou Diaby (knee).

QPR:
QPR have doubts over Christopher Samba (knee), Andros Townsend (hamstring), Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) and DJ Campbell (foot).

The game is up for Queens Park Rangers and have nothing to play for again but Arsenal will hope confirmation of relegation does not free the hosts of their shackles or turn them into keen spoilers on the day.
Arsenal cannot afford any form of slip up in this game, they must prevail to maintain their good run, as victory at the Loftus road will move back into third.

Its indeed really worrying that Arsenal have never won at Loftus Road in the Premier League era (D3 L2), but a bit of respite that
Arsenal have won their last three away league games.

The Gunners have not won four in a row on the road since November 2010, can they change that and get all 3 points on Saturday evening?

Mark Lawrenson BBC Pundit View

"Arsenal are on a really good run of form dating back to their defeat in the north London derby at the start of March, and they should continue that at Loftus Road. "

Match Facts Via BBC

The Gunners are chasing a fifth successive away win in all competitions.

Arsenal are one of only two Premier League teams who have yet to lose after taking the lead this season. Manchester United are the other side with that record.

The Gunners have surrendered just six points from winning positions this term, the second best record in the top flight. In comparison, fellow Champions League hopefuls Chelsea and Tottenham have dropped 16 and 23 points respectively.

Arsenal have lost just one game against a side in the bottom half of the league table so far this season (against Norwich in October).

Theo Walcott is set to make his 200th league appearance in English football (including 21 games for Southampton).

No Premier League player has had as many shots as Aaron Ramsey (39) without scoring this season.

Arsene Wenger dismisses PSG rumours & the return of Fabregas in his Pre Match Press Conference

3rd May 2013 By ArsenalSupremo


Arsene Wenger spoke to the media ahead of the Premier League match between the Arsenal and QPR at Loftus Road. The main headlines to come out of the conference was that Wenger dismissed reports linking him to a move to PSG.

"I answered that question already. I respect my contracts. Football excites me... my love for this club excites me."

"I want this club to do well. We have gone through a sensitive period but I believe the club is in a good position for the future. I do my job with a lot of commitment and a lot of loyalty. I try to do as best as I can for this club."

Arsenal have been on a great run of rum ever since the Baryern Muincih win Wenger added :

"Since January we've become stronger and stronger. That's important going into next season," he said.

"We had to rebuild the team in the last two seasons. We have moved forward in the second part of this season considerably.
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