It had to happen. The complacency bug finally bit and Arsenal’s seven-match winning streak came to an end at struggling QPR. Arsenal gave a rather limp performance, with key players like Van Persie and Vermaelen not really turning up.
Really? Again?
What was more interesting about the match was the reaction. Apparently Wenger now needs to be sacked, and ‘major changes’ need to be made to the side. Why? Arsenal have 21 points out of a possible 24. That sounds like pretty great form to me. All football teams struggle sometimes, and QPR have a fairly decent record against bigger clubs, beating Chelsea and Liverpool at Loftus Road as well as Arsenal.
But what actually happened in the game? I’m getting to that.
Match Report
Arsenal began brightly, with Robin Van Persie sending a bobbling free kick at Kenny. But QPR began to press, and eventually they were rewarded with Abel Taraabt’s first Premier League goal (his first in 69 shots. See how unfortunate that is?). Arsenal huffed and puffed and eventually equalised through Theo Walcott’s second time shot after his first hit the post.
Arsenal dominated the rest of the first half, and started out the second in bullish mood. For all their dominance however, they couldn’t find a second goal. Kenny saved well from Robin Van Persie when he was through on goal, but that was about it.
Then in the 66th minute, Arsenal got bitten.
Thomas Vermaelen slipped on the rather poor Loftus Road Turf, and Jamie Mackie picked up the ball and squared it to Diakite to score the winner. Aaron Ramsey was practically invisible before being taken off for Gervinho, who didn’t have one of his better games for the Gunners. Now you mention it, I’m not sure what a better game for Gervinho looks like. He’s been no Arteta, that’s for sure.
Marouane Chamakh also made absolutely no impact. He doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself at the moment, and is one of the players who should genuinely be considered to be offloaded. Welsh captain Ramsey is another of those players, as his appearances always seem to coincide with Arsenal defeats.
It was an excellent win for QPR, who are struggling to survive in the Premier League despite some big-money purchases, but Arsenal did not look like ever really winning the game and allowed QPR to outmuscle them. That said, QPR’s captain Joey Barton was at his best. He performed some lovely theatrics when brushed by Mikel Arteta to run down the clock, and got Alex Song booked simply by falling over. A thoroughly unlikeable character, but no excuse for Arsenal’s performance.
The Big Picture
Sadly, the only thing that Arsenal can take from this game is not to underestimate teams. They allowed seven wins in a row to go to their heads and clearly had visions of Aston Villa’s flat performance against them in their heads. Arsenal had a bad day, but that might be all it was.
If Arsenal can get a result against Manchester City, who are rapidly coming off the rails of late, then this game will be forgotten. But they have to make sure this is a minor blip and not the start of yet another bad patch.
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