....still think we will be beaten, but there is a glimmer of hope. If we get the 'good' Adel of the last couple of games he should get more space against the Gooners who are under pressure to win this one well - and they aren't their best under pressure to perform. If we keep up the controlled aggression of the second half yesterday, we know they don't enjoy that. If we can get decent service to HH and improve our set pieces, they don't like that either. And if we don't sit back and let them run at us.... A lot of 'ifs', but we really have nothing to lose on this one, hope Neil delivers on his by now standard 'we'll have a go and enjoy it' spiel (please not the same approach as at Liverpool) It may be the swansong for a few of our players if we are really busy in the window - would be great for them all to put in a big performance. The worry, as always, is the centre of defence and our struggles not to give the ball away cheaply. I think this lot, including Wenger, are easily wound up and although I am a fan of the beautiful rather than the brutal game, I will suspend my aesthetic preferences for a robust approach on Saturday. This is going to be fun, especially as I have wangled another ticket for my son (£40, he'd better be grateful!!) and a lot of my mates are dyed in the wool Gooners. Come on you R's!!!!!!!
SB.73 Hoping you have a good time in the tumbleweed arena ... have a feeling that this maybe a good game of football and one in which Adel Taarabt shines and even Barton gets it on. I will be mid Atlantic by then and like yourself have many friends who are gooners. I am holding out for a shock win and the start of a sustained climb up the table.
The one thing that makes me confident is howterribe Arsenal's defence is. Iftheir defenc e wasnt so bad, They'd be top
The Bolton game: 1 worldie, 1 own goal wich wasn't dreadful, 1 Deflected goal which was unlucky and another good goal. Not terrible defending.
Have to say that after last night also feel a little more confident about going to Arsenal, play as we did 2nd half and could give them a real fright. The only other thing i ask is that Neil gives his half time team talk before kick off and not wait 45 mins to work out how the opposition play, we all know how teams play in this league so lets start the game in the same positive way as we did the 2nd half yesterday. Keep the faith, up the R's
QPR defence v RVP ..maybe Troare /Young can stop him QPR attack v Arsenal defence.......HH is good but the Arsenal defence is better. Plus RVP didn't score in last game and needs a couple more to beat a goal scoring record. Not expecting anything from this one
Talking of wind ups lets hope Joey manages to get Gervinho sent off for a second time this season, now that would be a first.
I think that's a bit harsh. Whilst that has been their weak point for as long as I can remember at home only Swansea and Man City have let in fewer. Away from home they can be got at but at the Emirates they have made themselves tough to beat. What has cost Arsenal is their inability to score on a more frequent basis. These days it is a rarity for Arsenal to score more than a goal or two in a game, something which you could never say about previous Arsenal sides.
Blackburn was a freak result, nine times out of ten Arsenal would have won and they had players playing that were inexperienced at this level, now they have settled Arsenal look a lot better, the return of Vermaelen has also helped them as well.
Alright vermaelen's a good player, but Mertesacker has looked very shaky and was at fault for recent goals conceded vs Norwich and Villa when even our defence would have dealt with it. I don't rate Koscielny either. They'll need to rely on vermaelen and Szczesny (is that spelt correctly) to keep our attack quiet. If Taarabt and Helguson turn up then I can see a tough day for Arsenal's defence.
We've just got to play the high-tempo in-your-face game we played 2nd half at Swansea. If the crosses go in regularly it'll be only a matter of time before they make a cock-up and gift us one...
By the way I am not saying you don't have a chance, I just disagree with you on Arsenal's weaknesses. Going on our game against them and games I have seen of them I do not believe the centre is their weak point. Mertesacker is error prone but not that bad, Koscielny IMO is a poor defender but nonetheless quick. My opinion is that for QPR to get anything out of this game obviously every player will have to play to their maximum, but in particular you need great games from SWP, Young, Traore and whoever plays left wing for you because whilst Song and RVP will take all the plaudits, I've seen Walcott and Gervinho on the wings rip open defences time and time again. Arsenal's full backs are not the greatest and if SWP and co can get at them and get crosses in the box like you did against Stoke then Helguson may well have a happy afternoon. I think you'd have to concede a goal or less to take anything from there but it should be a great open game. Either way I am hoping you win, so come on you R's Yeah, prior to Wenger they were the most dull and boring team to watch, most of the new Arsenal fans don't actually believe it though. They will tell you Arsenal have always won things and were connoisseurs of attractive football
Don't rate Mertesacker, I rather think he was a Wenger panic buy. Have a feeling HH will take him to the cleaners. But as someone pointed out RVP vs our lot could be a horror show, guess that evens things up then?!
Surely it's time Van Persie did his hamstring again,nothing serious just enough for him to go off in the 1st minute and stay off until their next game.
