Arsenal 2- 1 QPR: Just Like Arsenal to Provide that Boxing Day Entertainment
Arsenal put another three points in the bag with our 2-1 win over QPR on Boxing day.
That sounds too straightforward though and, as we know, it never is with the Gunners these days. It was just another day at the office for the home side.
Arsenal met a QPR team seemingly intent on defending, and didn’t do that particularly well as we still had a number of good chances. Our confidence has been up and down this season depending on results, and you would think Harry Redknapp would try to give and attack us after how we ended the Liverpool game.
Still, we made things relatively difficult for ourselves, and it looked like it would be a horrible day at the Emirates when Alexis Sanchez saw his penalty saved by Rob Green. Former Gunner, Armand Traore played his part in the penalty(part of Arsene Wenger’s sleeper program to get some wins) and since that didn’t result in a goal he decided to let Sanchez waltz into the box close to head in the opener close to halftime.(Well done Traore).
Sanchez was his usual hard-working, and creative self and, again, it’s tough to think of where we would be without him this season. He doesn’t seem to be close to doing anything as daft as Olivier Giroud despite his feisty attitude.
Giroud became part of one of those “please don’t do it,” moments when he headbutted, or put his head close to, Nedum Onouha(the reaction doesn’t matter) and now we apparently have a crisis in the attacking sense in terms of choices. Except that we don’t.
Maybe Wenger gave Giroud that stare because he knew he’d have to play Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell more, though I’m sure he’ll just opt for Yaya Sanogo. Plus there’s Theo Walcott coming back too as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Plenty options if you so choose Wenger.
Other than Sanchez and Giroud, Tomas Rosicky stood out. Mainly because I almost forgot he still played for us. Glad he did well though, so hopefully there’s more appearances for him in the second half of the season.
It was an okay performance overall, and the defense can be given a bit of credit for hanging unto the lead this time. Wasn’t a particularly great game though and I probably could’ve just gone with the highlights.
Get to see all the other holiday games live though so that should be fun. Or not. I get the feeling West Ham may have had a potential three points against us in the back of their minds, and weren’t too worried about the Chelsea loss.
Guess we’ll see.
Until next time.
Always Thinking Football 