Winning run ends as QPR defeat Gunners

Arsenal's seven match winning run in the League finally came to an end on Saturday afternoon as Queens Park Rangers defeated the Gunners 2-1 at Loftus Road. It was not a game in which you would expect Arsenal to slip up in, especially after seven straight wins but with Ramsey playing out wide the game didn't have much width and Vermaelen having a pretty bad game in defence it looked like the Arsenal side that we saw play so terribly at the begining of the season. Arsenal's cause wasn't helped by Adel Taarabt who opened the scoring and was having his best game this season. However despite Walcott's goal before half time, Diakite scored just after the hour mark to give QPR a crucial three points in their battle to stay in the League. Arsenal made two changes for the London derby as Aaron Ramsey was played out of position at left midfield in place of Gervinho who was on the bench whilst Koscielny, who missed the Villa game with injury, replaced Djourou in the centre of defence.

Theo Walcott has started to regain his form towards the end of the season

The first chance of the game came from a Robin Van Persie free-kick. The Dutchman hit a low shot under the wall which almost found the bottom corner of the net but for Kenny in the QPR goal.

The hosts first chance also came from a free-kick. Adel Taarabt swung in a ball which found the head of Zamora who could only manage to put his opportunity over the crossbar.

Zamora then got another chance as he found room on the edge of the penalty area before firing a shot which was comfortably saved by Szczesny.

However on 22 minutes, Rangers took the lead. The ball was played forward from the back into the path of Taarabt who easily turned Vermaelen before going through on goal and slotting the ball past Szczesny for his first goal of the season.

8 minutes before half time, Arsenal equalised. Van Persie managed to poke the ball through to Walcott who then hit a shot which rebounded back off the post and then back to him for an easy finish from close range.

Aaron Ramsey then came close to giving the Gunners the lead as he picked up the ball on the edge of the area before striking a shot which went inches wide of the far post.

The score at half time was 1-1.

Shortly after the break, Kieran Gibbs came close to adding his second goal in as many games as Sagna's cross found him at the back post but his header bounced wide of Kenny's goal.

Van Persie, who had not scored in his last two games, then had a brilliant chance as he latched onto Song's ball but Paddy Kenny raced out of his goal to thwart the Premier League's top goal scorer.

Six minutes after the hour mark, Queens Park Rangers were back in front. Vermaelen slipped on the edge of the area which allowed Mackie to take advantage as he got into the penalty area before cutting the ball back to Diakite to smash the ball home.

Arsenal replied immediately with a chance to equalise as Rosicky drove a shot from outside the area but it lacked any power meaning Kenny made a comfortable save.

It was a game in which QPR deserved their lead and were denied late on as they looked to extend their grip on the game as Joey Barton's fierce effort was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Szczesny.

The final score finished QPR 2-1 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

QPR: Kenny, Onuoha, Hill, Ferdinand, Taiwo, Derry, Diakite, Barton, Taarabt, Mackie, Zamora(90).
Subs: Cerny, Gabbidon, Young, Wright-Phillips(90), Buzsaky, Campbell, Bothroyd.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs(82), Song, Arteta(81), Ramsey(69), Rosicky, Walcott, Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Santos, Benayoun, Gervinho(69), Oxlade-Chamberlain(81), Chamakh(82).

My man of the match: Theo Walcott

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 18,033