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Preview: QPR v Arsenal, Team News, Starting XI & Prediction

By on March 4, 2015

Arsenal take on Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road tonight looking to cement our place in the top three.

We moved back to third with a 2-0 victory over Everton on Sunday and although it was far from convincing at times, the win was all we needed after the Monaco disappointment.

The race for the top four is extremely tight with just three point separating us from sixth-placed Liverpool so there really is no margin for error and we certainly cannot afford any dropped points this evening.

QPR are 18th in the table and have lost six of their last seven games, so we simply have to be beating this sort of team away from home if we want to be finishing in fourth or better this season.

Team News

Aaron Ramsey is back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury and I’d expect to see him recalled to the starting eleven tonight.

Jack Wilshere will miss at least the next two games after undergoing minor ankle surgery last month while Mathieu Flamini is also still nursing a hamstring strain.

Francis Coquelin is expected to start despite fracturing his nose against Everton but Mikel Arteta remains out along with Mathieu Debuchy.

As for QPR, they’ll have Sandro back from injury while Onuoha is also expected to return to the side.

Preferred XI

I’ve been calling for Szczesny to be reinstated in recent weeks but fair play to Ospina, he put in an excellent performance against Everton and deserves to keep his place.

I’d stick also with the same back four as Sunday with Gabriel keeping his place ahead of Mertesacker.

But I would make a small switch in formation in midfield with Ramsey deployed alongside Coquelin which should give the likes of Ozil a little more freedom further forward.

Theo deserves a start as he’s been left out in recent weeks and although Sanchez could do with a rest, we simply can’t afford to leave him out right now.

This would be my team:

Prediction

We recovered reasonably well from our Champions League set-back so hopefully we’ll be able to build on the Everton win and make it four consecutive league wins on the bounce tonight.

QPR can be a dangerous side but I’m going to back the boys to grind out another important victory to ensure we remain third. QPR 0-2 Arsenal

COYG!!!