Arsenal will be looking to extend their winning run to four games as they head to QPR on Wednesday. Defeat in Europe aside, Arsene Wenger’s side have been in good form in the league and have won nine of their last 10 games. Aston Villa’s win on Tuesday night means that QPR start the game in the bottom three and Chris Ramsey’s side will be looking to turn around their home form, which has been far from convincing since their 3-2 win over West Brom in December.
Here are the three key battles that will decide the outcome of this game.
Alexis Sanchez vs QPR’s injury-hit midfield
After a breathtaking start to his career in England, Alexis Sanchez has been flying below the radar in the past few weeks. Even though, he is still the club’s leading goal scorer, he hasn’t scored in any of his last seven games and even his creative output has gone down. With a crucial game against Monaco on the horizon in the not too distant future, Wenger will want his star summer signing to start firing soon.
Although Ramsey’s side will be well-rested ahead of the game on Wednesday, their long injury list means that they aren’t in the perfect position to take on Arsenal. Joey Barton is suspended, Leroy Fer is injured and Nico Kranjcar is a doubt, all of which means that Karl Henry will be given the sole responsibility of ensuring that the home side can cope with Sanchez. Even without his usual midfield partner, Henry will be looking to take charge and keep the Chilean attacker quiet.
Charlie Austin vs Olivier Giroud
After starting to life in the Premier League brilliantly, Charlie Austin has gone off the boil somewhat in 2015. Earlier in the season, he pretty much scored all of the club’s goals, but recently his form and QPR’s form as well, has dipped. The 25-year-old has only scored two goals in his last seven league games and during that time QPR have only scored 4 goals. If they are to have any chance against Arsenal, they will need Austin to fire on all cylinders at Loftus Road.
While there is no doubt that Giroud gives them a different element in their attacking play, at times, he can be incredibly frustrating. As a striker, his main aim is scoring goals and although he has scored nine league goals this season, his last two games have been a perfect example of why he still isn’t the perfect striker for Arsenal. Against Monaco, he had plenty of chances, but fluffed his lines, while he didn’t repeat the same mistake against Everton, he still should have got more than one and Wenger will want more out of his French striker as the season draws to a close.
Bobby Zamora vs Gabriel Paulista
If there is one thing that was evident from Paulista’s debut against Everton, it was that he loves a challenge. Whether it is in the air or on the ground, the Brazilian has shown a high propensity towards tackling and winning the ball back. He will face his toughest test yet as he takes on Zamora on Wednesday. While the 24-year-old center back attacks the ball well, he will be given the unenviable task of keeping one of the league’s best headers, quiet.
While Zamora does not have the pace that he once had, there are few better strikers, who can hold the ball up half as well as he well. Not only does he get a lot of flick ons, but he is also a very good header of the ball and has the intelligence at times, to distribute the ball well and keep it simple. If Zamora can get the better of Paulista, then the home side will certainly have a field day, when it comes to winning balls in the air, but if the Brazilian center back can keep him quiet, then that is half of QPR’s threat nullified.