Walcott’s early goal sees off Rangers
QPR 0 Arsenal 1
Theo Walcott’s cool finish after only 14 seconds – the fastest goal in the Premier League this season – was enough to see off QPR.
Relegated Rangers deserve some credit, having put Arsenal under sustained pressure with the excellent Andros Townsend a thorn in the visitors’ side.
But they paid the price for an early defensive lapse, with Walcott, allowed space between Clint Hill and Armand Traore, collecting Aaron Ramsey’s pass and firing beyond Rob Green.
And Walcott would have doubled the Gunners’ lead had keeper Green not tipped his low shot onto the post midway through the first half.
Rangers improved and on-loan Tottenham man Townsend brought a second-half save from Wojciech Szczesny with a cracking long-range strike.
And after Green denied Walcott, Szczesny produced a fine stop, diving to his left to push away Loic Remy’s low shot.
QPR: Green, Ben Haim, Onuoha, Hill, Traore, Townsend, Jenas, Mbia (Derry 45), Remy, Park (Taarabt 78), Zamora.
Subs not used: Murphy, Mackie, Granero, Da Silva, Bothroyd.
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook