Wilshere returns as Arteta grabs late winner

Jack Wilshere returned to first team action as he started for the first time in 14 months, as Arsenal beat QPR 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates thanks to a late goal from Mikel Arteta. Arsenal showed glimpses of being back to their old selves as they got 3 vital points having lost their last Premier League game but still struggled in front of goal. The Gunners cause was helped by a sending off to Mbia which meant Arsenal found room to grab that all important goal. It had been a tough week for Arsenal but a far from convincing win against bottom of the table QPR rose spirits a tiny bit. Aswell as the returning Jack Wilshere who came in for Gervinho who was dropped to the bench, Bacary Sagna returned from injury and played for the first time this season as he came in for Jenkinson.

Arteta bundled the ball into the net late on to win the game for Arsenal

The first chance of the game was created by Andre Santos as he got down the left hand side before trying to pick out Giroud but the ball deflected off a defender and Cesar made the save.

Arsenal's first clear cut opportunity fell to Ramsey as Sagna crossed the ball into the box and the Welshman's header struck the cross bar.

Giroud then did have a chance to test Cesar as he turned and then tried to pick out a cross. The ball was blocked though and at the second time Giroud shot from a tight angle but it was an easy save for the goalkeeper.

Gunners fans then got to see signs of what they'd been missing from a certain Jack Wilshere, as he combined with Cazorla before hitting a shot from the edge of the area, which was spilled by Cesar but then gobbled up at the second attempt.

Arsenal were having all the play and Giroud was allowed to test Cesar again as he let fly from the left hand side but the QPR goalkeeper got down well to it.

Just before the break Santos found space on the left hand side after Wilshere had played the ball out to him. The Brazilian then brought the ball onto his weaker foot but Cesar was once again in the way of the shot.

The score at half time was 0-0.

The first opportunity of the second half went Arsenal's way. Arteta delivered a ball in from the free-kick and Mertesacker managed to glance a header towards goal but was denied by an inspired Julio Cesar.

It was a second half of few chances but with more or less 15 minutes to play Santi Cazorla had a great chance to put the Gunners ahead. The ball fell to him 12 yards from goal but he skied the shot over the bar.

A few minutes later, QPR found themselves in trouble as Vermaelen went shoulder to shoulder with Mbia and then brought him down, but the Cameroonion then kicked out at the Arsenal skipper and was sent off.

With 7 minutes left to play Arsenal finally got the goal they deserved and had finally put one past Cesar. Andrey Arshavin did well on the left to beat his man and then pick out Giroud, whose header was clawed away by Cesar, and then after hitting the bar with his first effort, Mikel Arteta tapped home for the winner.

However, the game wasn't finished there and the Gunners kept plugging away as Cesar denied a driven effort from Ramsey shortly after the goal and then a curling effort from Cazorla.

In the last minute of the game QPR had their best chance of the afternoon as the ball was played into Granero but he dragged his shot wide.

Into injury time and Jamie Mackie almost scored a brilliant goal as he took the ball past 3 Arsenal players before breaking into the penalty area and firing straight at Mannone. 

The final score finished Arsenal 1-0 QPR.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos, Arteta, Wilshere(67), Cazorla, Ramsey, Podolski(71), Giroud.
Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Jenkinson, Coquelin, Arshavin(82), Walcott(67), Gervinho(71)(82).

QPR: Cesar, Bosingwa, Nelsen, Mbia, Traore(73), Diakite, Granero, Wright-Phillips(79), Taarabt, Hoilett, Zamora(73).
Subs: Green, Ferdinand, Onuoha(73), Faurlin, Ephraim, Mackie(79), Cisse(73). 

My man of the match: Mikel Arteta

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 60,103