QPR undone by second-half Arsenal double

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QPR 1 Arsenal 2

Second-half strikes from Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez condemned QPR to defeat at Loftus Road.

They caused Arsenal problems during a disjointed first half but midway through the second were undone by two goals in the space of five minutes.

Giroud improvised to fire home a loose ball after Kieran Gibbs’ shot had been blocked, before Sanchez skipped past Darnell Furlong and scored from an acute angle.

Charlie Austin pulled a goal back with a thumping shot from near the edge of the penalty area eight minutes from time, but his team were unable to find an equaliser and remain in the bottom three.

Rangers, without the suspended Joey Barton, brought Sandro and Nedum Onuoha back in after injury but neither player lasted the whole match.

With Rio Ferdinand struggling with illness, Onuoha was deployed in the centre of defence and youngster Furlong kept his place at right-back.

Furlong, 19, did well during a first half in which Austin had three attempts on goal – two were saved by keeper David Ospina and the other flashed narrowly wide.

QPR were well in the game at that stage but lost Onouha just before the interval after he was involved in an accidental clash of heads with team-mate Steven Caulker.

And although he lacked sharpness after his latest knee problem, Sandro’s withdrawal 10 minutes into the second half was followed by a one-sided spell in which Arsenal took control.

Mesut Ozil looked certain to put the Gunners ahead from close range but appeared to be impeded by Karl Henry following lovely work on the right by Tomas Rosicky.

And after Giroud eventually broke the deadlock, keeper Rob Green came to Rangers’ rescue on a number of occasions before Sanchez netted the all-important second.

Green was quickly called into action again, this time to push Ozil’s shot on to the post, before the excellent Austin gave Rangers hope with his 15th goal of the season.

QPR: Green, Furlong, Onuoha (Hill 44), Caulker, Yun, Phillips, Sandro (Kranjcar 56) Henry, Hoilett (Isla 73), Zamora, Austin.
Subs not used: McCarthy, Wright-Phillips, Vargas, Zarate.

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