Match Reaction - Arsenal vs QPR

[Japan Shaking All Over]

A win. . .thank fuck

And with results finally going our way with the teams above. . .maybe we can play not so well and get higher up the league

[GP]

Good win. Defending really well too.

Excellent.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That will do. Mostly shite but the days of hammering teams at home are long gone, seemingly.

[Edinburgh Gooner]

who'd have thought after the OT debacle, we'd be where we are. C'mon you gooners!!!!!

[AKBapologist]

Back to 4th.

I think we all learnt from this game how big a tool Joker is.

[Coney]

who'd have thought after the OT debacle, we'd be where we are. C'mon you gooners!!!!!

Never any doubt.

[Marc Overmars]

Goals are drying up, reliance on RVP is increasing.

Anyway, 3 points, clean sheet, job done. Rivals slipped up and we're into 4th. Get the fuck in, now lets stay there.
Good way to end what has been a pretty shit year in general, lets hope for a glorious 2012. :scarf:

[tigerthesmurf85]

Good win. Not a great performance but happy with the win obviously. Also all results went our way :)

[Sirjackofwilshere]

Only team not to concede a goal this round....get in

[Unai Tea]

All alone in 4th by 2 points over Chelsea and Liverpool. Tottenham only 3 points ahead with a game in hand.

Feels good when looking back at the start of the season. The two draws against Villa and Wolves are regrettable.

Defending was pretty sound and there were few real scares. We were probably pretty wasteful up front and probably should have scored 2 more at least.

A solid, professional win.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Back to 4th.

I think we all learnt from this game how big a tool Joker is.

He made his trademark talking out of his arse comment. . .got it shoved down his throat, didnt like the taste and did hus usual disappearing act. . . .no doubt he will be back around soon. . . .

Is it just me or does he remind anyone else of Golum?

[Master Splinter]

We turned a routine 4-0 win into a 1-0 thriller again.

Arsenal :bow:.

Finishing school with Thierry Henry is in order for our players.

RVP :bow: surpasses Henry's record.

Ramsey was excellent (apart from the flicks :doh:).

Defence good again.

Need our injury curse to lift and a winger and striker.

[Sirjackofwilshere]

Arsenal 1-0 QPR

that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling

:bow:

Heres to more clean sheets

[GP]

RPQ :pal:

[Joker]

Important win but yet another lacklustre performance. When was the last time we actually played well? Sure, the results are encouraging but we can't go on like this, a better side than QPR would have punished us. This just shows that we need serious reinforcement in January, otherwise it's going to be a long second half to the season. If we get the players in, I think there's a decent chance we'll get 4th, but if we fail to add any players apart from Henry, it'll be a struggle for 5th let alone 4th.

[GP]

Important win but yet another lacklustre performance. When was the last time we actually played well? Sure, the results are encouraging but we can't go on like this, a better side than QPR would have punished us. This just shows that we need serious reinforcement in January, otherwise it's going to be a long second half to the season. If we get the players in, I think there's a decent chance we'll get 4th, but if we fail to add any players apart from Henry, it'll be a struggle for 5th let alone 4th.

:pal: nice one diaby-fan

[gunnerrrrr]

Coaqulin has the touch of a seasoned porn star....Wenger should play him in mid

[Niall_Quinn]

Should have been an easy 3 points but RvP was the only guy up front who didn't have his laces tied together. Good defensively until we had to shuffle around for yet another fucking injury. But we dug out the 3 points with another RvP goal and provided he stays fit we have a decent chance of 4th. Some awful play up front by Theo and Gerv though. What goes through their heads when they have the ball? They can't even get the simple stuff right. The Park/ Ox mystery deepens, although Ox was spotted on the bench so at least we know he's real. Park is surely a made-up player though, a pretend signing by the board so they could save even more money than usual.

[Dennis Bendtner]

A win was obviously most important. The usual suspects are amazingly wasteful, though. Has to be emphasised that the team depends on them taking those chances with Cesc and Nasri gone. Theo and Gervinho as first choice do not look the right stuff.

The defence is looking good, though. Koscielny has had an immense run.

Coquelin won't let us down when played in CM. Very good player.

[milla]

Seriously, at this rate we will be fuked without Gerv. Arshavin and Feo were useless today, hopefully ******* will start Oxtail at Fulham. :coffee:

[fakeyank]

Is TV injury serious?

[Niall_Quinn]

Is TV injury serious?

Nope, he was joking.

[Syn]

Wenger :haha:Start oxocube ffs!

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Important win but yet another lacklustre performance. When was the last time we actually played well? Sure, the results are encouraging but we can't go on like this, a better side than QPR would have punished us. This just shows that we need serious reinforcement in January, otherwise it's going to be a long second half to the season. If we get the players in, I think there's a decent chance we'll get 4th, but if we fail to add any players apart from Henry, it'll be a struggle for 5th let alone 4th.

Agreed should sell RvP to fund your plan!

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Should have been an easy 3 points but RvP was the only guy up front who didn't have his laces tied together. Good defensively until we had to shuffle around for yet another fucking injury. But we dug out the 3 points with another RvP goal and provided he stays fit we have a decent chance of 4th. Some awful play up front by Theo and Gerv though. What goes through their heads when they have the ball? They can't even get the simple stuff right. The Park/ Ox mystery deepens, although Ox was spotted on the bench so at least we know he's real. Park is surely a made-up player though, a pretend signing by the board so they could save even more money than usual.

AW is obviously keeping Oxo back for the home stretch. . .

[Coney]

AW is obviously keeping Oxo back for the home stretch. . .

.. for the Fulham game in 2 days so we have fresh horses??

[alexander]

Wenger :haha:Start oxocube ffs!

this.

give him a go.

[Niall_Quinn]

AW is obviously keeping Oxo back for the home stretch. . .

You mean he's going out on loan in Jan? Probably.

[Joker]

Oxlade does have to start now IMO. Walcott is maddeningly inconsistent, and his miss today was appallingly bad. Gervinho is also badly out of form, and doesn't seem to know how to finish. Arshavin, despite the assist looks a forlorn figure these days.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Is TV injury serious?

If it drops on you yeah.

[Kano]

gerv made all the difference when he came on, needs to keep working on his shooting but great runs, pace and directness which created far more chances than we had throughout.

not surprised it was a tough one today, qpr have been far better away from home this season and were set up well, running their hearts out for each other.

half way through the season, in the top four and our status in this bracket is in our hands.

[Niall_Quinn]

Oxlade does have to start now IMO. Walcott is maddeningly inconsistent, and his miss today was appallingly bad. Gervinho is also badly out of form, and doesn't seem to know how to finish. Arshavin, despite the assist looks a forlorn figure these days.

It's all bad. I can see us going down and then going down again the season after and then going bankrupt and out of business. Can't see how we can avoid this now.

[Globalgunner]

Good win but really painful to see us labour so agonisingly against average opposition. There is no disguising the fact that Theo and Gervinho are a joke that cannot be made up. Two attacking players that are absolutely clueless at scoring. their efforts to score a goal are lke that of a truck driver attempting keyhole surgery. To get past a team like AC milan you need players who can take the few opportunities that come along. At least Theo had the decency to look suitably embarassed when coming off.

[Master Splinter]

Vermaelen out for "two to three weeks".

Out for two seasons confirmed.

Even if we buy, they'll just join the others in the hospital.

We.

Are.

Fucking.

Cursed.

[Niall_Quinn]

Vermaelen out for "two to three weeks".

Out for two seasons confirmed.

Even if we buy, they'll just join the others in the hospital.

We.

Are.

Fucking.

Cursed.

Two to THREE weeks!!!!???? Fuck! We've never had an injury beyond 2 weeks have we? It must be very serious, like he's dead or something. Anyway, I was getting worried. It had been hours and hours since our last major, season changing injury.

[Power n Glory]

Good win but really painful to see us labour so agonisingly against average opposition. There is no disguising the fact that Theo and Gervinho are a joke that cannot be made up. Two attacking players that are absolutely clueless at scoring. their efforts to score a goal are lke that of a truck driver attempting keyhole surgery. To get past a team like AC milan you need players who can take the few opportunities that come along. At least Theo had the decency to look suitably embarassed when coming off.

Theo will find his form and start scoring again. If Arshavin gets regular games, I'd trust him to start scoring as well.

[Coney]

Theo will find his form and start scoring again. If Arshavin gets regular enemas, I'd trust him to start scoring as well.

:gp:

[Marc Overmars]

Squid to come into the team then? :unsure:

[Cripps_orig]

Just got back

Played better v Wolves but drew that and won this. Its a funny game.

Defence was excellent yet again. Kos is looking awesome finally after 15 months of shiteness but 2 brilliant performances in a row is a start. Mert was just a rock. Jo Djo was decent as well. Whats wrong with Verm? His booking was a joke. Standard of officiating in this country is at an all time low.

Arteta had one of his better games. Song looked poor again. Ramsey :doh: This guy needs to be replaced asap.

Arshavin :bow: Great assist and followed on from his good performance v Wolves. Surely a starter now ahead of Gervinho whos Arsenal career is surely coming to an end? Awful player. What should have been a comfortable 3-0 win was a nervy 1-0 thanks to Gervinhos inability to shoot from 6 yards.

Theo should have scored. Worked hard though. RVP :bow: best striker in the world but should have broken the record with the chances he had the last couple of games. Hes looking jaded and if he starts v Fulham, its a minor miracle

[Cripps_orig]

On Arsenal’s Premier League rivals dropping points…
“Yes, many teams dropped points. For us, it was a bit of a repetition of the Wolves game because we didn’t manage to score more than one goal. Then it’s down to not making a mistake at the back and we had to be patient to take our chances. I feel when the repetition of the games is so high, you can’t make a difference with the pace of the game, you have to take your time and focus on not making a mistake. That’s what we did quite well, and Robin van Persie again scored the goal that won us the points.

On QPR’s display...
“It is a good QPR side. They have a good midfield, they played well and they always looked capable of creating something. It is one of the good teams we have seen this season."

On Robin van Persie repeating his scoring exploits in 2012…
“He can, because he is the right age to perform. It is ‘touch wood’ that he can repeat the same number of game but nothing is impossible. I don’t know why tonight at midnight it should suddenly change!”

On whether Van Persie will be disappointed not to set the scoring record…
“He will not tell you, but certainly he will be [disappointed]!”

On being in the top four after a difficult start to the season...
“That’s why when you are in a difficult situation I always said that you have to take the criticism and focus on performing better and improve. I give credit to the players because we have been 17th or 18th in the League and we focused and improved as a team, with a formidable spirit in the side. That got us where we are today. We still have room for improvement, but there a good basis there because the attitude and spirit are really great.”

On Thomas Vermaelen limping off…
“He has a calf strain, so maybe at midnight I will try to find a left back! It is serious enough for him not to play on Monday [against Fulham] or against Leeds for example. We now have three left-backs out [injured]. Francis Coquelin came on in this position and did quite well, but he is a central midfielder.”

On whether he try to sign a left back on loan…
“Straight after the game I don’t know, because I have to analyse it all. Kieran Gibbs is not too far but it would be stupid for us to drop points because we don’t have a left back.”

On Emmanuel Frimpong going to Wolves on loan…
“The reason behind it is that he is in the position of Jack Wilshere, he has the level to play with [Alex] Song in front of him. But he is somebody who needs practice; he needs the rhythm of the games. Mick McCarthy told me he has a good chance to play. I also have Coquelin in this position who can play. One of the two had to go on loan, and Frimpong has a good opportunity at Wolves.

On Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first-team chances…
“He is not very far at all, he will play very quickly.”

Verm out for the season. Confirmed

[McNamara That Ghost...]

At least it isn't Vermaelen's ankle. Well, I suppose I am probably putting my faith in the wrong people there.

[Cripps_orig]

Oh and most importantly

Adams :bow:

Was great to see him before the game

[Master Splinter]

RVP is 'clever' as he gets away with numerous fouls on defenders according to Warnock.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16374631.stm

Warnock trying to influence refs when we play against his mates' teams.

RVP may do it sometimes, but compared to most GHELs (Davies, Merchant, Holt) he is a statistical blip.

Warnock can't go an hour without some attention though. Paranoid twit.

[Syn]

Ooooh, he's so clever, isn't he?

Oh yeah, clever one that Van Persie.

His bloody arms about all over the place!

Not like our guys...nah, we can't do that.

Oooh, that stare at the referee as well....!!

....Fuck off you fat, talentless, sack of British shit. You cancerous blob of filth.

[Cripps_orig]

Fan of Warnock and he praises RVP

[Niall_Quinn]

Theo should have scored.

He should have played to a professional standard as well - but he didn't do that either.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ooooh, he's so clever, isn't he?

Oh yeah, clever one that Van Persie.

His bloody arms about all over the place!

Not like our guys...nah, we can't do that.

Oooh, that stare at the referee as well....!!

....Fuck off you fat, talentless, sack of British shit. You cancerous blob of filth.

Anyone know what he had to say about the deliberate elbow on Arshavin that the ref ignored but everyone else on the planet saw?

[Master Splinter]

Anyone know what he had to say about the deliberate elbow on Arshavin that the ref ignored but everyone else on the planet saw?

Arshavin was clever.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Arshavin :bow: Great assist and followed on from his good performance v Wolves. Surely a starter now ahead of Gervinho whos Arsenal career is surely coming to an end? Awful player. What should have been a comfortable 3-0 win was a nervy 1-0 thanks to Gervinhos inability to shoot from 6 yards.

Gevinho never even started you plum so how could it be his fault we never won 3-0, it was walcott, who cock up the chances to day and Arshavin who did nothing as usual.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

RVP is 'clever' as he gets away with numerous fouls on defenders according to Warnock.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16374631.stm

Warnock trying to influence refs when we play against his mates' teams.

RVP may do it sometimes, but compared to most GHELs (Davies, Merchant, Holt) he is a statistical blip.

Warnock can't go an hour without some attention though. Paranoid twit.

Warnock is a plum end off.

[Cripps_orig]

Gevinho never even started you plum so how could it be his fault we never won 3-0, it was walcott, who cock up the chances to day and Arshavin who did nothing as usual.Did you even watch the match? :doh:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Did you even watch the match? :doh:

Nope it was not on tv, but heard it on the radio, and it was theo who missed the chances the commentator was saying. Even said how we should have brought on Gev earlier.

[Cripps_orig]

I was at the match and Gervinho had simple chances.

Far simpler than Theos who also should have scored which i also said which you ignored just to be a WUM :rolleyes:

[Letters]

Frustrating performance but as Ach said we played far better vs Wolves and only drew, today we were far poorer but won. Today the result was all important, especially given the other results, and we did. We end the year top 4 which we'd never have thought we would early season. Walcott's miss was embarrassing, he really is maddening at times. Gervinho looks dangerous at times but is far too slow to make decisions. Kos continues to impress and Merts is starting to look good, he seems to be adapting to the PL now.

Overall, job done. We need to strengthen up front in January, we're still a RvP injury away from mid-table right now, but a very pleasing day all round.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Frustrating performance but as Ach said we played far better vs Wolves and only drew, today we were far poorer but won. Today the result was all important, especially given the other results, and we did. We end the year top 4 which we'd never have thought we would early season. Walcott's miss was embarrassing, he really is maddening at times. Gervinho looks dangerous at times but is far too slow to make decisions. Kos continues to impress and Merts is starting to look good, he seems to be adapting to the PL now.

Overall, job done. We need to strengthen up front in January, we're still a RvP injury away from mid-table right now, but a very pleasing day all round.

Hence why we need a Higuian or Benzima who know how to score goals.

[fakeyank]

I was at the match and Gervinho had simple chances.

Far simpler than Theos who also should have scored which i also said which you ignored just to be a WUM :rolleyes:

Gervinho had chances but theos chance, even i wouldve finished 7/10 times and football is not even my profession. Dont get me wrong, both are terrible at finishing, theo is just not improving while this is gervs first season and he has much better ball control than theo can even dream of!

[Cripps_orig]

RVP seems happy enough with Theo and who are we to argue

Great partnership

Long may it continue

Still, no improvement in 4 years :lol: That was a good one

[Unai Tea]

RVP seems happy enough with Theo and who are we to argue

Great partnership

Long may it continue

Still, no improvement in 4 years :lol: That was a good one

No, there's definitely been improvement in the last four years but Walcott remains a maddeningly inconsistent player who will miss easy chances to score or to create something and who gives the ball away far too cheaply. He's also prone to injury. However, his pace means he continually gets a good number of opportunities and he's making a few more of them himself now. He's also someone who will track back and add his effort to the collective defense - another improvement.

But he's not terribly convincing alot of the time. He's like an awful Gareth Bale. BBC says Walcott and the club are squabbling over a new four year £85,000 per week deal. I don't think he's worth much more than half of that.

[Cripps_orig]

Now that i can agree with.

Anyway bigger problem is centre of midfield.

Ramsey has been very poor and was awful in this game.

[Unai Tea]

Wilshere should solve the problems in midfield, theoretically. We have to wait another 6 weeks and we have to hope that Wilshere comes back healthy and on top form. Should that happen Ramsey plays less and rotates with Wilshere and Arteta in those two midfield roles. Ramsey is by no means a lost cause but to rely on him at this stage of his career is risky. He can be very good at times, but lacks consistency and he can just as easily have a poor game. Wilshere plays at a higher level and is generally more consistent, despite being Ramsey's junior.

An ideal solution would be for Wenger to give up on Diaby and get another creative midfielder in - one in his prime or coming into it (Gotze). I don't think we're really in desperate straits in midfield though. By the end of February we should have a midfield 3 of Wilshere, Arteta and Song. That's a good mix and can do the job we need. With a more experienced Ramsey, developing Coquelin as well as the old heads of Rosicky and Benayoun, we have enough in midfield. You could throw Diaby in there but tbh, the sooner he goes the sooner we have a spot free for someone who is actually available to play.

[Master Splinter]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2081042/Robin-van-Persie-versus-Neil-Warnock--Graham-Poll.html?ITO=1490

Graham Poll :bow:.

[Cripps_orig]

Arshavin won MOTM on the Arsenal website for this

Arshavin :bow:

Hes back

Gervinho :wave:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Grow up.

[Kano]

Wilshere should solve the problems in midfield, theoretically. We have to wait another 6 weeks and we have to hope that Wilshere comes back healthy and on top form. Should that happen Ramsey plays less and rotates with Wilshere and Arteta in those two midfield roles. Ramsey is by no means a lost cause but to rely on him at this stage of his career is risky. He can be very good at times, but lacks consistency and he can just as easily have a poor game. Wilshere plays at a higher level and is generally more consistent, despite being Ramsey's junior.

An ideal solution would be for Wenger to give up on Diaby and get another creative midfielder in - one in his prime or coming into it (Gotze). I don't think we're really in desperate straits in midfield though. By the end of February we should have a midfield 3 of Wilshere, Arteta and Song. That's a good mix and can do the job we need. With a more experienced Ramsey, developing Coquelin as well as the old heads of Rosicky and Benayoun, we have enough in midfield. You could throw Diaby in there but tbh, the sooner he goes the sooner we have a spot free for someone who is actually available to play.
i really like the look of ramsey although i'm not sure if his fabregas style has developed because of taking on cesc's approach too much or if he has always played that way (i remember the portsmouth game away a couple years back and he seemed more direct).

he has a great eye for a pass, needs to work on his composure in front of goal, covers a lot of ground but needs to speed things up in general. even the way he moves with the ball eerily reminds me of our spanish ex captain, its almost as if his time out has left him a year behind in terms of the teams development with his too patient approach. he'll continue to go up and down in form at this age but i'm just glad he'll get a full season out there, ready to build and improve further for next season.