Sunday, January 1, 2012

Not a bad way to end 2011 with a victory

Arsenal did just enough to earn 3 points on the last game of the 2011. Robin van Persie once again scored the winning goal for the Gunners. This victory brings Arsenal to fourth place, pushing Liverpool, who won against Newcastle 3-1 a day before, to the fifth place.

As usual, Arsenal wasn't too dominant in the first 15 minutes, but started to dominate the game after that. Robin van Persie comes twice close to break the deadlock, when his header just wide from the target and his shot just few metres in front of the goal somehow went over the bar. Theo Walcott also had a great chance, but he opted to cross it and failed to score. QPR, in other hand, only had two chances, which Szczesny brilliantly blocked it, and the other one, Per Mertesacker made a perfect block to stop the shot. The first half ended, and it was still scoreless.

the skipper done it again! (photos from Arsenal.com)

On the second half, Arsenal continued its dominance, and got numbers of corners, but failed to score. Arsenal should have got two penalties, when Laurent Koscielny's shot blocked by hand, but the ref somehow didn't give any penalty; and when Mikel Arteta's cross touched QPR's defender's hand, but the ref continued the game. Theo Walcott unbelievably missed a one on one chance on the beginning of the first half. Aaron Ramsey saw his fierce shot cleared of the line by Joey Barton. Finally, Robin van Persie broke the deadlock after QPR's misplaced pass is received by Arshavin, and he sent through ball to the captain. Robin van Persie coolly put it back into the net. 1-0 the scoreline. The goal he scored made him just one goal behind Alan Shearer's record goals in one year. With that goal, RvP had scored 35 in 2011, and Shearer scored 36 in 1995.

After Arsenal took the lead, QPR tried to hit back, by creating few chances but failed to score. Matthew Connolly was unmarked on the penalty area but he smashed the ball over, Adel Taarabt forced Wojciech Szczesny dived to save the ball, but failed to score any. On the other hand, Arsenal could have easily doubled their lead when Robin van Persie's superb pass met Gervinho who stands just two meters in front of goal, but he missed it. Aaron Ramsey had a great opportunity, but he missed the target. In the end, the scoreline remained the same, 1-0.

It wasn't the most clinical finishing Arsenal showed yesterday, and Robin van Persie failed to broke Alan Shearer's record. Credit must be given to QPR who did good defending, and made some crucial blocks. Arsenal need to be more clinical in front of goal, in order to secure fourth place this season, as well as any silverware possible. Walcott and Gervinho can't afford to missed like that again. But at least, the Gooner should be grateful to earn full points where Man United and Chelsea drops three points home, Spurs drops two on Swansea's home. It was a good New Year present from the Gunners for all Arsenal fan.

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