Wednesday, March 4, 2015

QPR v Arsenal preview: Gunners going for fourth straight league win

Aaron Ramsey is back in the Arsenal squad
Aaron Ramsey is back in the Arsenal squad
Relegation-threatened QPR host Arsenal, who despite a dismal result in the Champions League remain in imperious form in the league.
Only Liverpool have taken more Premier League points than Arsenal in 2015 and the Gunners are now just four points behind Man City in second place.
Arsene Wenger’s men have won 10 of their last 12 Premier League games including beating Everton 2-0 on Sunday, which eased some of the negativity surrounding the manager after the 3-1 home defeat to Monaco in the Champions League.

Since the start of the 2012/13 season Arsenal have had little problems against teams in the bottom half of the table, losing just two of their last 54 games.
QPR were seen off 2-1 at The Emirates earlier this season when managed by Harry Redknapp, who has since been replaced in the dugout by Chris Ramsey.
The boss has lost two and won one of his three games in charge thus far and this game starts a run of tough home fixtures against Tottenham, Everton and Chelsea in the next month.
Team news
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be available after returning to training ahead of schedule following a hamstring problem.
Sandro has been declared fit to make his first appearance since November.
Jack Wilshere (ankle) will miss out, as will Mathieu Flamini (hamstring), Abou Diaby (calf) and Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) but Francis Coquelin could play despite fracturing his nose in Sunday's win over Everton.
Sandro is set to return to the QPR squad for Wednesday’s game and could be joined by Nedum Onuoha and Mauricio Isla.
Midfielder Sandro has not featured for the west Londoners since being taken off with a knee injury during the defeat at Newcastle in November.
Opta facts
QPR have won just one of the last seven Barclays Premier League matches against Arsenal (W1 D1 L5).
The Gunners have netted just 13 goals in 13 Premier League games against QPR.
QPR have won just one of their last nine matches in the Premier League (W1 D2 L6).
Since making his first PL start of the season in December, Francis Coquelin has made the most interceptions (38) and second-most tackles (39) in the whole Premier League.
"I think Leicester have more of a chance of staying up than QPR."
Paul Merson
Olivier Giroud has scored seven goals in his last nine Premier League starts.
Merson’s prediction
Arsenal win these games. They bounced back well on Sunday with a professional performance against Everton after a devastating defeat midweek against Monaco. They tend to do this, and I see it continuing again. Their season has been full of small runs met by big defeats.
I think Leicester have more of a chance of staying up than QPR if I’m honest, despite the five-point gap. Their away performances have improved and one or two wins against the teams around them could give them a huge boost.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2

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