Published: 29 October, 2012

by PAUL COWLING



Barclays Premier League


Arsenal  1 Queens Park Rangers 0

ARSENAL returned to winning ways with a hard fought  win over bottom club QPR. But it took a late goal from Mikel Arteta to separate the sides, and give the Gunners three much needed points they barely deserved.

Arsene Wenger was a relieved man following the win, after facing up to two straight defeats in the past week – not to mention a fiery club AGM the day before.
"I am very happy with the result", said the Frenchman. "The confidence of the team was jaded, so it was important not to make mistakes, and we needed to be patient against a very good side."

Before kick off, Wenger had made his intentions clear with his team sheet. Theo Walcott was on the bench after returning from injury, and there were starts for long-term casualties Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna.

But, for 80 minutes, this was a game to forget. – as drab as the weather, and a performance from Arsenal that failed to warm their shivering and restless fans.

The Gunners' play also mirrored those costly defeats against Norwich and Schalke in the previous two games.
There was no conviction with their play, and few goalscoring chances were made, where a forward three of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazora hardly troubled Rangers keeper Julio Cesar.

But, such is the Premier League, the match sparked into life in the last ten minutes.

The game changing moment came when QPR central defender Stephane M'bia was sent off for violent conduct – the Cameroon international lashing out on Gunners captain Thomas Vermaelen.

Rangers, who had held Arsenal at arms length with relative ease, suddenly found the Alamo coming at them. Cazorla blasted a great chance over the bar, while Andriy Arshavin – on for injured substitute Gervinho –  shot wide of the upright.

Then the pressure paid off. On 84 minutes, Giroud's  goal bound header forced Cesar into a fine save. The ball cannoned back to Arteta, whose own header hit the crossbar, but the Spaniard was on hand to scramble the ball into the net to put Arsenal a goal up. Replays showed Arteta looked offside, but the goal stood.

But, it wasn't game over for Arsenal's fans.  QPR still had two great opportunities to come away with at least a point, with two late chances. 
Esteban Granero, pulled a shot wide of the left hand post. Then in injury time, substitute Jamie Mackie made a 30 yard run into the box, but his shot on goal was blocked by Vito Mannone.

But, after a difficult week for Arsenal,  the victory over Rangers was all that mattered for Arsene Wenger and his side.

Of even greater comfort was the fact that Sagna played the full 90, while Wilshere came through 67 minutes successfully, before being replaced by the returning Theo Walcott.

Wenger refused to be drawn on whether Wilshere would be available for the trip to Manchester United next Sunday: 'He (Wilshere) has been out for 17 months. He needs more competitive action, and to get his pace back."

It should worry Gunners fans, that however good a player Wilshere is, perhaps they are expecting the club's whole season to hinge on what the young (and inexperienced) midfielder does from now on in.

There was even a scare when Wilshere got clattered by Granero, and he was left clutching his ankle. But he got to his feet unscathed.
"He (Wilshere) got kicked, but there was no problem', said Wenger.

For the Gunners, their season, and their desperate trophy chase, might just depend on keeping Wilshere fit, and hoping 17 months out, hasn't hampered this mercurial talent.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Arteta, Wilshere (Walcott 67), Cazorla, Ramsey, Podolsk (Gervinho 71 – Arshavin 81) Giroud. 
Subs not used: Martinez, Koscielny, Coquelin, Jenkinson

QPR (4-5-1): Julio Cesar, Bosingwa, Mbia, Nelsen, Traore (Onuoha 73), Wright-Phillips (Mackie 79), Diakite, Granero, Hoilett, Taarabt, Zamora (Cisse 72) 

Subs not used: Green, Ferdinand, Ephraim, Faurlin.

Goal: Arsenal – Arteta 84

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Attendance: 60,103