Tomas Rosicky marked his first league start of the season with a goal as Arsenal returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over neighbours QPR on Boxing Day.
Rosicky has found game time hard to come by in recent months but has given manager Arsene Wenger plenty of food for thought with his goal-scoring impact in this festive fixture. The Czech international added to a goal from Alexis Sanchez as the 10-man Gunners bounced back from their 2-2 draw with Liverpool to record Wenger's 400th win in the Premier League.
Going into the game Arsenal had only lost one Boxing Day fixture in the Premier League, while their opponents had yet to win on the festive day, so it was no surprise that the hosts were on the front foot for much of the game.
Arsenal should've taken the lead after just seven minutes when Armand Traore fouled Sanchez in the box, but the Chilean's tame effort was well kept out by Rob Green in the QPR goal.
But the Gunner's summer signing didn't let that miss faze him and he made up for his earlier error with the opening goal after 37 minutes. A good passing move ended with Kieran Gibbs crossing for Sanchez to head home his 10th league goal of the season. Ian Wright is the only player to reach 10 Premier League goals in fewer games for Arsenal than Sanchez, highlighting the Chilean's importance to the side this season.
The hosts were in firm control until they let their London rivals back into the game within eight minutes of the restart. Olivier Giroud appeared to be fouled by Nedum Onuoha and the Frenchman needlessly reacted by pushing his head into the defender before being given his marching orders by referee Martin Atkinson.
Although Onuoha made a meal of it there is no excuse for Giroud's actions - it was pathetic and he really should know better! Not only that but it meant, what should've been a comfortable victory against a side without a point away from home this season, became a nervy second half.
Luckily for the Gunners' faithful, Rosicky had other ideas and doubled the hosts' advantage after 65 minutes. Sanchez was again at the heart of the move as he set off on a mazy run through the visitors' defence before releasing Rosicky to shoot first time beyond Green, albeit with the aid of a slight deflection.
Arsenal were in control but QPR refused to give up and reduced the deficit from the spot 11 minutes from time. Mathieu Debuchy was penalised for bringing down Junior Hoilett and Charlie Austin made no mistake with the resulting penalty to score his 12th league goal of the season.
Mathieu Flamini had to be alert to clear Eduardo Vargas' header in the final minute before QPR fans were left raging by what they felt should've been a penalty in stoppage time. Leroy Fer sent a ball into the box and Gibbs appeared to bring down Bobby Zamora but nothing was given. Arsenal were relieved and held on to take the maximum three-point haul and will now have to dust themselves off quickly before another London derby at West Ham.
After conceding a late equaliser against Liverpool the week before, this was a much-needed win and the Gunners will be delighted by the result. However, being 15 points off leaders Chelsea before the end of the year isn't the situation we really wanted to find ourselves in.
We are playing well in patches but Chelsea and Manchester City are still way ahead this season and we could do with some January additions to give us more chance of keeping up the pace with the sides above us in the table. There is still plenty of hard work to be done and Wenger will need to make sure his side are on top form as they try to take maximum points against the Hammers and from the trip to Southampton on New Year's Day.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
No comments:
Post a Comment