Key man ruled out of tonight’s fixture! History not on our side today…..

Morning all.

There’s quite a number of players I dislike for their on-field antics and Joey Barton sits very high on my list.  He’s always been a player who will try and stop teams from playing football and not always fairly  so thank goodness that under tall, dirty little git is banned for our game tonight. In his place will no doubt be Brazilian midfielder Sandro who returns from injury.

Qpr are fighting for premier league survival and after Aston Villa finally won a game last night, they have dropped into the relegation places. They have lost five of their last six league games, and have claimed just one win in nine matches since Christmas Day.

Come on, if we can’t win this one then Lord help us!

However, Qpr have a decent record at home against us in recent years, losing just one of the last seven fixtures, four of which have seen both clubs share the points.

Head-to-head

  • Arsenal have won their last three Premier League games against QPR and lost just one of the last seven (W5, D1, L1).
  • However, the Gunners have only won one of their last seven league matches away to Rangers (D4, L2).
  • They have netted just 13 goals in 13 Premier League games against QPR.

Zamora and Austin up front could cause us a few problems but hopefully Gabriel and his defensive team-mates will carry on from where they left off on Sunday.

The last time we played them, Alexis missed an early penalty and Giroud got sent off for his little tantrum involving Onuoha – how Ferdinand didn’t see red straight afterwards for grabbing Giroud around the neck I don’t know but today is a different day and we need to keep eleven on the pitch.

Seriously, let’s just get over there and win. Stick another three points on the board and hope City keep slipping up, although the thought of the poison dwarf lifting the Premier League title irks somewhat….

Aaron Ramsey is back and Francis Coquelin is good to go to, albeit needing a batman or robin mask but then how appropriate. Sometimes we need a super hero and that guy can’t always be Alexis or Santi can it?

Let’s hope we can get the job done with relative ease with no injuries and then have a nice restful few days before heading to Old Trafford.

COYRRG’S!

165 thoughts on “Key man ruled out of tonight’s fixture! History not on our side today…..

  1. Wath says:

    On this day in 1987………… One of the best nights ever following The Arsenal….. LCSF reply at the swamp…. Thanks for the memories Rocky, what a day what a night and what a very very mad drinking session after i think……….

  2. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good post boss.

    Top two for us I’d say. And if we win next Monday its the FAcup as well.

    On paper the match is easy. But the AW/players script usually has top of the class difficulties….which they seem to impose on themselves.

  3. tsgh says:

    I m surprised Cg has not mentioned his fellow country man Michael Petrasso’s performances…
    His transition from Notts to Qpr has been very smooth…

  4. tsgh says:

    Odd how Mata is also not being played by LVG…
    AFC fans rate Mata higher than any other manager he has played for… lol

  5. Wath says:

    Andrew, the 2nd leg on the Sunday and the replay on the Wednesday night were up there for me in my top 5 ever games….! What football used to be all about…! Yids putting the price up by a quid just cos they knew it was us and that we’d ram the place out…! I just about sobered up from the Sunday game to be out on it again on the Wednesday….. 🙂 As you do…! That year and winning the final v the dippers was the start of our success and up turn as a club…!

  6. Wath says:

    Dev, I think the Park Lane if I remember used to hold 8,000 but that night there was way more than that….! It was one of those atmosphere’s that you just had to be in…! The whole day the whole buzz the anticipation and then winning and then taking the piss all down the Hi road…! etched in the memory for eternity mate…! The good ole days..!

  7. allezkev says:

    Saw the 1st Leg at Higbbury, up in the dear seats in the West Stand…

    It wasn’t one of Gus Ceasars finest moments if I recall… Not that he had many.

    The Final, Charlie Nicholas and all that, is probably my favourite after 1998 FACup.

    Great days indeed…

  8. rico says:

    Just seen a NN headline suggesting Arsenal are to enter contract talks with Diaby….

    How long does it take to say ‘goodbye and good luck’…… 😉

  9. allezkev says:

    Just read it Rico…

    A typical non-story…

    All Wenger has said is that he is going to discuss Diaby’s contract.
    Doesn’t say that Wenger is gonna offer him a new contract…
    Maybe a pay-as-you-play deal?

    That would mean probably two weeks wages a season…

  10. Wavy says:

    How long has Diaby been on the books? If he’s managed 10 years he’s entitled to a Testimonial! I wonder if he,d captain his eleven? They might like to call themselves, ‘the Old Sick Bay XI’. He could fill it with all the continuously unfit players from a pick of all 20 Prem Clubs, as a final hurrah!

  11. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House
    With 15 mins of the game left the U18’s are WINNING 5-1 at Leceister.
    Its the last game in the first stage of the league

  12. Marinello says:

    Good post Rico.

    Depending on which team turns up tonight, I fancy a 1-2 win or a 1-1 draw…..

    With regards Diaby, rumours are going around hat Vic Akers is training him up
    to be kit man, for when Vic retires.

  13. Wavy says:

    Don’t wish to be too cruel to Diaby and his plight but, if they wish to make him kit man they will have to provide him with a Mobility scooter with a trailer. He can’t be expected to carry anything with his parlous bones!
    Still it would keep him on the books. It shows a little compassion and humility from the club!

  14. Wath says:

    Was obviously at the first leg as well Kev, We were pretty crap to be honest, the 2nd leg and the replay was a different kettle of fish and when we lost the toss of the coin for ground venue and the replay was at the Swamp we celebrated more than they did…. Just had a feeling we would win and the rest is history as they say. Happy days mate….!

    Did someone mention Diaby………. Kit man… he’s use up all the band aids and bandages…!

  15. tsgh says:

    Poldi’s loan already a flop as predicted… lol

    What a lazy sod.

    Diaby will save the day from April onwards… it was written by the Sumerians. lol

  16. allezkev says:

    I went to the Slum in the league game that season Wath, but couldn’t afford the cup tie or replay… Was only a postman then… 😉

    Like Sanogo… 😀

  17. tsgh says:

    You got to love some bloggers… blaming Ozil for Sanchez barren spell on NN? lol

    Interesting how watching Ozil his body language screams I can’t be bothered but he covered the most ground in the last 2 games…

    Those stats mean jack all though. I guess 😉

  18. Wath says:

    I hardly missed a game home or away from 85 til 91 Kev, all the games against them in those days were an event lol and a huge day out.

    Can’t say I have seen anything of him Ts… Must I keep an eye..?

  19. tsgh says:

    Sections of fans and media still calling for Ozil’s head and intentionally ignoring Di Maria’s poor form..
    For Di maria, I guess he is Yanited player and he was not £42m and a last minute buy. lol

    I know I am ranting on a bit but reading Mata or Hazard, and Di Maria are far better is a bit annoying and baseless me think…

    Ozil does f all apparently but he has 3 goals and 5 assists in 12 games whilst Hazard has 9 goals and 6 assists in 26 games…
    Mata 1 goal 1 assist in 10 games … lmfao.

  20. Wath says:

    As we said before Ts, just means he can run…………… lol

    What he needs to do is just get goal side more often we know he not gonna tackle but putting himself goal side least helps the team more and makes it look like he interested in helping defend more…! All about his perceived attitude Ts…!

  21. tsgh says:

    You should Sir… he is new from Argentina. I am sure we will talk about him in future..
    Apparently Man City want him to partner Aguero next season…

  22. tsgh says:

    🙂 So true Wath re perceived attitude…

    But no Arsenal player has run 11.58 km in an afternoon match since Ramsey vs City in pre-season. Goes to show he is not lacklustre though and definitely not a headless chicken. 🙂

    Ozil needs to work on what you have mentioned but he was never like that at Bremen or RM so its hard to change I guess…

    The media agenda against Arsenal is revolting…

    One geek who works at one of the stats database hubs I help out with suspects there is a serious anti- Arsenal agenda even though he does not even like football nor support Arsenal…

    Number of times he ‘thinks’ certain entities have asked for Ozil’s stats to be ‘manipulated’ is a concern…

  23. Snaparse says:

    Heard about poldi ts such a shame he is so lazy will probably move in the summer anyways………. Rico reus just had a dead leg nothing serious

  24. rico says:

    Regardless snap, I still hope for a strong midfielder long before making some big money attacking player signing…..

  25. allezkev says:

    QPR have two big centre-forwards and Wenger has to manage Koscielnys long term injury niggle…

    Makes sense…

  26. Rick says:

    How rude of me Evening Rico.
    I’m pleased that both Gabby and Tomas are starting.
    By the way how are you Rico back to your best I hope.

  27. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good evening Lovelies and Hunkies

    I like that line up. Esp as TR07 is in it.

    Per has had a rest now. we will see if it is simply he was knackered or else if he is past his sell by date.

    But a good idea nonetheless to rotate him, Gabriel and Kos. That makes it 2 games for each CB out of every 3 played by the team

  28. Hell Raising Devil says:

    The heat map shows that Arsenal have the majority of possession. Up till now we have had 14 dangerous attacks, but a paltry 1 shot on target and 1 shot off target in the first 18 minutes. now corners yet.

    spuddies 1-1

  29. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Initially we had more possession, but now QPR are the better team although we are getting back in the game. still…..we have only shot 2 on target and 2 off target. First corner for us

  30. kel says:

    i hope so scott… not looking likely atm tho, are build up play is just to slow… i’d get the ox on asap imo

  31. tsgh says:

    My stats never have holes in them… 😉

    Not like mirror trying to say a DM is solid by comparing him to 2 CAM and 1 striker.

  32. Joaquim Moreira says:

    we can scored the third and like usually, we suffered a goal and last 10 minutes were terrible…or almost!

  33. kel says:

    Tough ragged game, we didn’t play well at all in the first half, but we upped the tempo 2nd half and got are rewards, a bit more cutting edge and we could have had 3 or 4… but a big 3pts in the bag considering utd, pool, spuds, southampton all won….

  34. tsgh says:

    Jeez, fans expect us to just turn up at a derby and roll a team fighting relegation over just like that…?

    Expectations are monumental…

  35. tsgh says:

    True kel..
    We should beat them I agree but it shouldn’t be as easy as it has been implied..

    Since ‘arry left they have been very good.

    We have come forward… 8 wins out of 9… impressive!

    Comapring our form now to last season at this time shows the post window hoodoo has been banished for thsi season at least…

  36. kel says:

    8 outta 9 is impressive, that was a tough game tonight tbh I didn’t expect anything else when was the last time we beat Qpr by more than 1 goal? With a bit more tempo in are play we could have had more, but credit to Qpr for making it a fight.

  37. allezkev says:

    A great result…

    Pity ManUre won…

    Yes Rick, it’s been a good day for our teams.

    Wonder how serious Gabriel is?

    Night All

  38. Joe says:

    Just watched motd discussed every penalty not given in all the matches so far except ours I wonder why.

  39. allezkev says:

    Morning All…

    Defensive re-think for Old Shithouse methinks…

    If AW wanted to play Koz and Gabriel, pressing the midfield etc, then that’s gone…

    BFG vs Falcao, Di Maria, Rooney could be messy…

    Morning All

  40. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Bongu Kev.

    I was beginning to enjoy the idea of AW playing the combos of Gabriel/Kos……Per/Kos…..GAbriel/Per, until the curse stuck again. Of course there is always Chambers however I still think he is still a fledgling although he is good.

    Maybe AW should try and buy a FB who can play on both sides. That way even the FB’s will be rotated and rested once every 3 games.

    And keep everyone fit and happy.

    but the injury joking curse seems to put all that in the shit house.

  41. Lee says:

    Nah I’m fit as the proverbial fiddle mate, seems our new CB has done his hammy! Luckily we’ve got Usain Mertesacker on standbye. Side show Bob was their striker last night, should be a good match up!
    You good mate?

  42. tsgh says:

    Maybe Chambers will get a bit of luck by showing their potential at CB with Paulista out…
    Wish Hayden was fit…
    Gabby will come back fitter and bulkier working on his upper body whilst injured.
    Happy for Per the Panzer… his performance was solid
    Per is Per; so is Ozil…
    We vent our displeasure with AW when he attempts to change a players position but then don’t accept a players limitation.

    Morning all

  43. Joe says:

    Well I see Gabriel is getting the full Arsenal experience three weeks in the medical center.
    We do seem to get the worst kind of luck when it comes to injuries.

  44. Hell Raising Devil says:

    In the Arsenal medical centre……….

    Diaby “Bonjour Gabriel. Je suis Abou.”

    Lewin “Oh no. Keep quiet Abou.”

    He turns on Gabriel………”Please try not to excite him much. Its easy for him to pull a tongue muscle. And that takes long to heal. And do be careful how much you stay near him. He is contagious!”

  45. Joe says:

    Should we not be making hazmat suits compulsory when entering the medical center when Abou is present.

  46. Hell Raising Devil says:

    It seems that AW is getting used to the idea of putting the fear of God into the opponents.

    First he bought Lurch aka Gabriel.

    Now he has promoted the Phantom of the Opera with a terrifying mask intended to scare off Barton from trying any tricks.

    What next??? Frankenstein???

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