First off, I have to apologise for not posting a preview for the game: I had a rather important mid-term exam to get ready for and thus had no time to spare. The exam didn't go down particularly well, but that's another story.
The squad
I was fully expecting Arsene to rotate the squad for yesterday's game and was surprised indeed when he didn't. The only changes were Rosicky for an injured Oxlade-Chamberlain and Monreal at centre-back for an exhausted Chambers. Debuchy was reinstated at right-back.
The first half
We dominated it. Pure and simple. At around 40th minute mark the stats showed Arsenal enjoyed 71% of possession.
Our first real chance came less than two minutes inside the half. Sanchez did brilliantly to control the ball on the right flank and then sent in a cross. The ball was cleared for a corner moments before Giroud could get on the receiving end.
The second chance was again created by Sanchez. The Chilean was hacked down inside the box and Atkinson pointed to the spot. Alexis stepped up, but his shot was the one to forget. Meek and tame, it was easily parried away by Green.
Why Cazorla, who has scored both his previous spot-kicks, didn't take that one, I have no idea. Even Wenger was baffled by that:
"How do you know he (Alexis) shouldn't take it? I think Santi is a nice guy and let him take it. Honestly, he is not No 1 on the penalty list, that's true."
However, Sanchez recovered almost immediately by nearly setting up Welbeck. We then had another chance to score, this time from a free-kick, but Giroud's brilliant shot was saved by Green.
We finally found a breakthrough in the 37th minute. Cazorla played in Gibbs down the left, our left-back crossed towards an unmarked Sanchez and the Chilean headed (!) the ball home. 1-0.
We could have been 2-0 up at half-time when Giroud was wrongly flagged offside, but then we also could have found ourselves level. Mercifully, Caulker headed wide from a decent position in the dying seconds.
The second half
We continued to play in much the same way as during the first half, but eight minutes into the second found ourselves a man down. Giroud was pushed by Onohua right into Green, as the Frenchman was trying to get onto the end of a cross and Olivier, for reasons best known to him, exploded. As soon as he got up on his feet, Giroud sprinted to Onohua and head-butted him. Atkinson, of course, showed a straight red.
Now, several things need to be said in connection with this suspension. Firstly, Giroud deserved his red and his consecutive three-game ban. Even if he was provoked, Olivier is a professional footballer and should know better than to react. Secondly, Onohua made the most of the head-butt, but that bit was expected, It wasn't exactly a proper head-butt, just a touch, but of course Giroud should not have done even that. And thirdly, for this, Ferdinand deserved to be sent off as much as Giroud did. Which, again, doesn't make Giroud's unsporting behaviour look any less unsporting, but also cannot be left unsaid.
And so we found ourselves with 10 men and only a one-goal lead. However, QPR didn't look in any mood to try and get at least a point, despite Rednapp throwing on two attackers: Fer and Hoilett. Instead, we continued to see more of the ball and that led to us doubling the lead.
Sanchez (who else?) went on a run, gathered everyone around him and rolled the ball to an unmarked Rosicky. The Czech's first-time effort made it 2-0.
After that, we fell back and haven't given many chances away. However, a mention should go to that penalty. At first, I was fuming because Debuchy clearly got the ball and only then did Hoilett run into Debuchy's outstretched leg. Then I noticed something different entirely: Debuchy didn't make contact with Hoilett at all. It was a dive, and a blatant one at that. Look closely and you'll see it.
Atkinson, without the blessing of a video replay, bought that dive and pointed to the spot, Austin powered his effort past Szczesny, but that was the only moment of danger QPR created after the sending off. 2-1 it ended.
The aftermath
We got the win and that's the important part. We are now a point behind fifth-placed West Ham and two behind fourth-placed Southampton and we play both teams in the next two games. Which means two wins will elevate us into the top four. And once we are there, we can try to overthrow at least United, The Devils currently have five points more.
That's it for now. A good win overall, a resilient defensive display. West Ham up next, in just over 24 hours. And so I'll be back with you tomorrow, with a preview for our game against the Hammers.
Until then
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin). And subscribe using the form on the right
The squad
I was fully expecting Arsene to rotate the squad for yesterday's game and was surprised indeed when he didn't. The only changes were Rosicky for an injured Oxlade-Chamberlain and Monreal at centre-back for an exhausted Chambers. Debuchy was reinstated at right-back.
The first half
We dominated it. Pure and simple. At around 40th minute mark the stats showed Arsenal enjoyed 71% of possession.
Our first real chance came less than two minutes inside the half. Sanchez did brilliantly to control the ball on the right flank and then sent in a cross. The ball was cleared for a corner moments before Giroud could get on the receiving end.
The second chance was again created by Sanchez. The Chilean was hacked down inside the box and Atkinson pointed to the spot. Alexis stepped up, but his shot was the one to forget. Meek and tame, it was easily parried away by Green.
Why Cazorla, who has scored both his previous spot-kicks, didn't take that one, I have no idea. Even Wenger was baffled by that:
"How do you know he (Alexis) shouldn't take it? I think Santi is a nice guy and let him take it. Honestly, he is not No 1 on the penalty list, that's true."
However, Sanchez recovered almost immediately by nearly setting up Welbeck. We then had another chance to score, this time from a free-kick, but Giroud's brilliant shot was saved by Green.
We finally found a breakthrough in the 37th minute. Cazorla played in Gibbs down the left, our left-back crossed towards an unmarked Sanchez and the Chilean headed (!) the ball home. 1-0.
We could have been 2-0 up at half-time when Giroud was wrongly flagged offside, but then we also could have found ourselves level. Mercifully, Caulker headed wide from a decent position in the dying seconds.
The second half
We continued to play in much the same way as during the first half, but eight minutes into the second found ourselves a man down. Giroud was pushed by Onohua right into Green, as the Frenchman was trying to get onto the end of a cross and Olivier, for reasons best known to him, exploded. As soon as he got up on his feet, Giroud sprinted to Onohua and head-butted him. Atkinson, of course, showed a straight red.
Now, several things need to be said in connection with this suspension. Firstly, Giroud deserved his red and his consecutive three-game ban. Even if he was provoked, Olivier is a professional footballer and should know better than to react. Secondly, Onohua made the most of the head-butt, but that bit was expected, It wasn't exactly a proper head-butt, just a touch, but of course Giroud should not have done even that. And thirdly, for this, Ferdinand deserved to be sent off as much as Giroud did. Which, again, doesn't make Giroud's unsporting behaviour look any less unsporting, but also cannot be left unsaid.
And so we found ourselves with 10 men and only a one-goal lead. However, QPR didn't look in any mood to try and get at least a point, despite Rednapp throwing on two attackers: Fer and Hoilett. Instead, we continued to see more of the ball and that led to us doubling the lead.
Sanchez (who else?) went on a run, gathered everyone around him and rolled the ball to an unmarked Rosicky. The Czech's first-time effort made it 2-0.
After that, we fell back and haven't given many chances away. However, a mention should go to that penalty. At first, I was fuming because Debuchy clearly got the ball and only then did Hoilett run into Debuchy's outstretched leg. Then I noticed something different entirely: Debuchy didn't make contact with Hoilett at all. It was a dive, and a blatant one at that. Look closely and you'll see it.
Atkinson, without the blessing of a video replay, bought that dive and pointed to the spot, Austin powered his effort past Szczesny, but that was the only moment of danger QPR created after the sending off. 2-1 it ended.
The aftermath
We got the win and that's the important part. We are now a point behind fifth-placed West Ham and two behind fourth-placed Southampton and we play both teams in the next two games. Which means two wins will elevate us into the top four. And once we are there, we can try to overthrow at least United, The Devils currently have five points more.
That's it for now. A good win overall, a resilient defensive display. West Ham up next, in just over 24 hours. And so I'll be back with you tomorrow, with a preview for our game against the Hammers.
Until then
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin). And subscribe using the form on the right
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