Published: 4 March, 2015
By PAUL COWLING at LOFTUS ROAD

Premier League
Queen's Park Rangers 1, Arsenal 2

GOALS from Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez were enough to earn Arsenal their fourth league win on the spin tonight (Wednesday) as they ran out 2-1 victors against QPR at Loftus Road.

Sanchez racked up the chances in a frenetic encounter, as he showed glimpses of his early season form. After the match Gunners manager Arsene Wenger paid tribute to the Chilean's resilience. “When you don't score, it's always on your mind. He took his chance well,” said Wenger. “He never gives up and has good mental strength. This is the sign of a good striker.”

Rangers shaded a scrappy opening, with the visitors having David Ospina to thank for keeping them in the game. The Colombian goalkeeper punched away a dangerous cross from Darnell Furlong, and then smothered a rasping effort from Charlie Austin on 22 minutes. He then had to palm away a goal-bound cross from Matt Phillips.

Arsenal came in to the game more as the half wore on, although they could only muster weak efforts from Santi Cazorla and Giroud.

The Gunners finally got out of first gear at the start of the second half, and their pressure finally paid off on 64 minutes when Santi Cazorla found Kieran Gibbs, whose short-range cross found Giroud – the French international sliding the ball home for his 10th league goal of the season.

Sanchez had two chances to double the Gunners' tally, but Rob Green saved both times. But the former England keeper had no chance with a third Sanchez effort in the 69th minute that put Arsenal 2-0 up. The Chilean weaved his way into the penalty area, bamboozling two Rangers defenders before slotting the ball into the net.

Charlie Austin blasted QPR back into the match in the 82nd minute to set the alarm bells ringing in the away dug out. But although Rangers upped the pressure, Arsenal held firm and deservedly held on for the vital three points.

“We were always in control in the second half, but at 2-1 you never know,” said Wenger.

ARSENAL: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, (Koscielny, 36), Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Rosicky (Ramsey, 87), Ozil (Welbeck, 90), Giroud, Sanchez

Substitutes not used: Martinez, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers.

Attendance: 17,977