Arsenal vs QPR: Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

Arsenal will look to put a turbulent week behind them and get their season back on track as Queens Park Rangers come to the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.

Arsene Wenger’s men put in a terrible performance on Wednesday night as Schalke ran out 2-0 winners at the Emirates in the Champions League, and this came just days after a shock 1-0 loss to Norwich.

The defeat at Carrow Road leaves us sitting ninth in the table and ten points behind league leaders Chelsea, so failure to take three points this weekend will all but end any slim hopes of an unlikely title push this season.

QPR are also desperate for points and come to the Emirates bottom of the table and still looking for their first win of the season.

Team news

The big news ahead of the game is the return of Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna. Both players came through 90 minutes for the under-21’s on Monday and are in line to start on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger still has to contend with a lengthy injury-list with Kieran Gibbs, Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski, Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky all still on the sidelines.

Theo Walcott is also a major doubt after struggling to overcome a chest injury, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to return after a minor hip problem.

Rangers boss Mark Hughes is sweating over the fitness of captain Ji-Sung Park after the midfielder picked up a knee injury during their 1-1 draw with Everton last weekend. However, the former Man Utd man is expected to be passed fit despite not training this week.

Defenders Armand Traore and Ryan Nelsen are both available but Fabio and Andrew Johnson remain out. Djibril Cisse is pushing for a start but Hughes is likely to play Bobby Zamora up top on his own.

Likely Line-ups

Many say Wilshere and Sagna are likely to be on the bench, and that may well be the case, but i’d like to see both start this weekend to give the team a much-needed boost. I’d also like to see Chamberlain come in for Gervinho and drop Santos in favour of Koscielny, with Vermaelen moving across to the left side.

However, while this is the Arsenal line-up I would play if fitness allows, unfortunately I think we’ll see a very similar side to the one that lost to Schalke.

Predicted Score

If the team above plays I would predict a relatively comfortable afternoon for Arsenal. However, if the side that took to the field on Wednesday starts again, it’s going to be a long afternoon. But whatever eleven takes to the field, it’s almost inconceivable we could put in three horrendous performances on the trot. Isn’t it?!

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 QPR

What would your team be and what’s your score prediction? Get involved in the comments section.

Fancy a flutter on the game? Claim your £10 welcome bonus at Sky Bet and enjoy some of the best match odds in the business.