HomeZ OLD CATEGORIESArsenal (NN)QPR vs Arsenal | Tactical & Opta Statistical Preview

QPR vs Arsenal | Tactical & Opta Statistical Preview

Arsenal go into this game as the form team in the Premiership, having won 7 games on the trot for the first time since the Invincibles season. The return of key players and confidence throughout the team has brought back some breathtaking football to the side and at times they have looked unbeatable. QPR looked to have turned a corner in their fight for Premiership survival after coming from 2 goals down against Liverpool to win 3-2. They followed that up, however, with defeat to Sunderland and sit 18th in the table. They do have an impressive record against the top sides, having beaten Chelsea on top of their unlikely victory over Liverpool, and Arsenal struggled to break them down in the previous meeting.

QPR have leaked goals this season, keeping just 3 clean sheets, and have conceded 3 goals or more on 7 occasions. Arsenal have tallied up 21 goals in their current run, an average of 3 goals a game, so it would certainly seem there will be goals at Loftus Road. Unfortunately for Arsenal, Armand Traore remains out for Rangers with a hamstring injury. With a tackle success percentage of 52%, having been dribbled past 10 times in 18 starts and losing possession 27 times, he would have certainly been a player to target with Walcott regaining his form and confidence. Djibril Cisse starts his 4 game ban and with 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games this is certainly a blessing for Arsenal.

Laurent Koscielny returns for Arsenal and should make the starting line-up to resume his impressive partnership with Vermaelen.

Koscielny Defensive Stats
Koscielny Defensive Stats in his last seven appearances

The panic that echoed around the Emirates when it was announced the Frenchman had injured himself in the warm-up tells you just how highly he’s rated by fans, but Zamora has troubled Arsenal this season and his wrecking ball style of attack will certainly test the centre-back duo. Koscielny will be banned for 2 games if he picks up a yellow card, missing the clash with Man City, so I would like to see him miss this one out, but Djourou’s current shaky form is a worry.I feel he receives a lot of unfair abuse about his ability and is a better player than many like to make him out to be, but his confidence has been knocked with playing at right-back and the run-in to the end of the season isn’t a time to try and get him it back.

Next page: More on the tactics for the game…

Alex Johnston
Alex Johnston
Disciple of Bergkamp
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