Özil & Rosicky Mugged Off Sandro

Match Review: QPR 1 Arsenal 2 - Premier League 04.03.15

Beating QPR was vitally important for Arsenal on a night that saw Liverpool, Spurs, City and (thanks to a last minute blunder) United pick up maximum points. Arsenal cannot afford to drop any points for the rest of the season for Champions League qualification to be in their own hands. A mere seven points separates 3rd from 7th and if Spurs win their game in hand against QPR this weekend then it will be just 5 points.

Arsenal shuffled the line-up once again with Gabriel moving into Koscienly's spot and Mertesacker regaining his place. Oxlade-Chamberlain dropped out of the starting line-up and was replaced by Tomas Rosicky whilst Coquelin kept his place donning a protective face mask.

It was hard to work out if Arsenal started brightly or if QPR just defended really well, I suspect it was a combination. Arsenal threatened to get into dangerous positions a number of times but first half chances were few and far between. 

The first big chance came from QPR who's midfield of Sandro and Henry pressed with fervour with the latter dispossessing Cazorla midway inside the Arsenal half before threading the ball to Matt Phillips who whipped in an inviting cross that was cleared by Mertesacker.

Newboy Gabriel rose majestically to plant a header on the ball from a corner that looked to be goalbound but alas it was blocked and he was substituted on the 36th minute due to injury. Koscielny slotted back into his natural role alongside Mertesacker and play continued.

Little of note happened before half-time until Cazorla saw a screaming volley saved by Green.

The second half was much more exciting to watch with Özil and Rosicky both mugging off QPR, Sandro in particular, to the delight of the visiting crowd.

Determined to get back to his level Alexis twice threatened the goal before who else but Olivier Giroud should pop up with the opening goal. A scrappy exchange in the box followed a swift counter-attack and the ball fell kindly for Giroud to poke home. Officially Gibbs will be accredited with an assist but in truth I don't think he knew much about it. 

Giroud and Alexis combined not long after to rob the ball from QPR just outisde their box but Alexis choked and the chance went begging. Eager to make up for this Alexis took the ball from Gibbs on the left hand side of the box moments later before dancing through the QPR defence and producing a deadly finish from a tight angle. Alexis had gone seven games without a goal and you could see how much of a relief it was.

Arsenal almost made it three but Özil's deflected shot was tipped onto the post by Green. With minutes left on the clock it looked to be a comfortable victory for Arsenal before Charlie Austin struck to make it 2-1 and give QPR hope of a dramatic late equaliser but Arsenal held firm and took control of possession to see the game out.

Austin's goal was probably avoidable as Koscielny, occupying himself with Zamora, attempted to marshal Gibbs into closing down Austin but Gibbs was also occupied with tracking the wide runner as you would expect from your full-back. Both players were of equal distance to Austin when he received the ball but neither attempted to close him down and he turned in space before unleashing a shot past Ospina.

It is hard to criticise one player and not the other when they were both equally culpable but the reaction to that goal on Twitter split the camp in two main groups of "Gibbs' fault" and "Koscielny's fault". Both could have done much better. It was naive of Gibbs to run away from the ball towards the runner and it was naive of Koscielny to have considered Zamora more of a threat when Austin had the ball and he had Mertesacker the other side of Zamora able to get in front should Austin have passed.

The most annoying thing about the goal is it set up a nervy finish and further fuels the ridiculous notion that we are "struggling to beat relegation teams". Teams at the bottom of the table with 5-15 games left tend to find an extra gear in their desperation to stay up and a late goal from an avoidable lapse in concentration doesn't make the game any closer than it was. Arsenal were in control from the off and whilst the scoreline reads 2-1 to Arsenal the performance was a professional 2-0.

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Ospina, Bellerin (Y), Mertesacker, Gabriel (Koscielny 36'), Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Alexis (Welbeck 90’), Özil, Rosicky (Ramsey 86’), Giroud
Subs
Martinez, Chambers, Koscielny, Ramsey, Walcott, Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamberlain

QPR (4-4-2)
Green, Furlong, Onuoha (Hill 45'), Caulker, Yun (Y), Phillips, Henry (Y), Sandro (Krancjar 56'), Hoilett (Isla 73'), Austin, Zamora
Subs
Hill, Wright-Phillips, McCarthy, Isla, Kranjcar, Vargas, Zárate

Player Ratings

Ospina - 7/10 - Not much to do but did well when called upon, had no chance for their goal
Bellerin - 7/10 - Booked on the night but offered a decent attacking outlet
Mertesacker - 7/10 - Looked much more like his old self
Gabriel - 6/10 - Replaced after 36 minutes with an injury
Gibbs - 6/10 - Got two assists but had little hand in the second goal, jointly at fault for their goal
Coquelin - 8/10 - Battled well and kept things tidy
Cazorla - 7/10 - Played well in his deeper role and set up a few attacks
Alexis - 7/10 - A sketchy first half was quickly forgotten with his excellent goal
Özil - 8/10 - Ran the show. His turn in the box was pure sex
Rosicky - 7/10 - Got into good positions and had an energetic performance
Giroud - 8/10 - Another star man performance. Monaco aside he's been superb since his return
Subs
Koscielny - 7/10 - Defended well up to Austin's goal. Jointly at fault with Gibbs
Ramsey - N/A
Welbeck - N/A

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