Queens Park Rangers outplayed Arsenal in a 2-1 win that snapped the Gunners' Premier League winning streak. It was a poor performance by Arsenal where QPR managed to push the Gunners back on their heels early.
Samba Diakite celebrates after scoring the eventual winner for QPR
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Adel Taarabt, the former Tottenham midfielder, lifted the host club into the lead 22 minutes into the match. It was the Moroccan's first Premier League goal this season.
After Robin Van Persie punched the ball to Theo Walcott, who hooked the ball in for a match tying goal, QPR responded well to all the pressure that the Gunners applied. With defense being one of Arsenal's strengths through out their winning streak, against QPR, it was mistake prone and lacked passion.
Arsenal was almost too open when they were on offense. And when you got your hopes up that they would finally do something exciting, they would merely pass or turn the ball over in a tussle. The Gunners' offense looked self-doubting; more so in this match than any other in recent months. Finding Van Persie on the edges or in front of the goal seemed unfeasible.
The match was an overwrought contest that Arsenal lacked commitment in. QPR took advantage of every defensive opportunity the Gunners gave them. There was more talent on Arsenal, but QPR produced more through pure will.
Rangers were also strong on the break which I found to be the biggest surprise of the duel. Arsenal has been a club all season that's defended the break better than most clubs in the Premier League, and QPR is not known for its fast break ability-there record and place on the Premier League Table show that to be the case.
By the time QPR went ahead for a second time, it felt like the Gunners' passion had already been deflated. A late Arsenal comeback never materialized.
The worse part of this upset is that Arsenal has to play Manchester City next. After this defeat Arsenal is now tied with Tottenham with 58 points. It makes the Gunners' match on Saturday against second place Manchester City a possible must win to not fall to fourth place.
If you told me in mid-January that Arsenal would go on a winning streak and be in third at this time, I would've shook my head and laughed in disbelief. But that doesn't soften the QPR defeat any less. I knew Arsenal was likely to lose ultimately, except I just wish it could have been to team higher on the table.
Note: I've been an Arsenal fan for the past decade. My cousin got me interested in the London club at an early age.
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