Robin van Persie may have been thwarted in his hunt
for a Premier League goalscoring record but was on hand
to help Arsenal end 2011 with a 1-0 victory against
QPR.
• Wenger: RVP can kick on in New Year
The Gunners captain had 90 minutes to net twice against
the Rs to equal Alan Shearer's record of Premier League
goals in a calendar year.
Having wasted four decent chances in the first period,
van Persie swept home his first opportunity of the second
half after latching onto Andrey Arshavin's neat ball.
However, the Holland international failed to add to
his 60th minute effort and missed the chance to equal
the former Blackburn striker's 36-goal haul from 1995.
Van Persie was not the only Arsenal player left ruing
missed opportunities, with Theo Walcott and substitute
Gervinho both guilty of failing to convert gilt-edged
chances.
The Gunners' futility led to a nervy ending against
spirited QPR, although resolute defending saw the majority
of the 60,067 crowd go home happy.
Before kick-off Arsenal legend Tony Adams was given
a standing ovation on the Emirates pitch.
The former captain's appearance failed to boost today's
side, though, with QPR dominating the opening exchanges.
After Per Mertesacker thwarted an Adel Taarabt through
ball, ex-Arsenal striker Jay Bothroyd soon found space
to get away a 20-yard effort on goal in the ninth minute.
Wojciech Szczesny held with ease but looked less comfortable
when an exquisite Taarabt pass put Shaun Wright-Phillips
behind the Gunners' backline a minute later, forcing
the Polish goalkeeper into a quick block.
QPR were playing with confidence in north London, although
a moment of van Persie magic could have easily seen
the home side break the deadlock.
The Arsenal skipper jinked back and forth on the right-hand
side, before sneaking past his marker and toe-poking
an effort on goal from close range, but without success.
Former Tottenham playmaker Taarabt was fortunate to
escape punishment from referee Martin Atkinson in the
19th minute when he seemingly caught Arshavin with a
stray arm.
Joey Barton fired a shot across the face of goal with
the Russia international still grounded, before van
Persie twice came close at the other end.
The Dutch striker first backtracked furiously to head
just wide, before wriggling past Luke Young in the box
and lifting the ball just over the bar.
The Gunners were in the ascendancy and van Persie fired
just over the bar after being put through by a long
ball from the back.
Arsenal twice had penalty shouts rejected as half-time
approached, before a goalbound Aaron Ramsey effort was
cleared off the line by Barton and Cerny parried a fierce
Mikel Arteta drive.
QPR looked rejuvenated after the break and Jamie Mackie
found the net within two minutes, although the whistle
had already been blown for offside.
Armand Traore's dangerous left-wing cross caught Arsenal
off guard five minutes later, but Alejandro Faurlin's
miscued shot allowed Szczesny to gather comfortably.
Wenger's side were looking most dangerous on the break
and Walcott should have scored the afternoon's opening
goal in the 56th minute.
Ramsey put the former Southampton man through one on
one with Cerny and, despite the goalkeeper diving the
wrong way, Walcott somehow pulled his shot wide.
Fortunately that lack of composure did not haunt the
Gunners, who broke the deadlock through van Persie four
minutes later.
Arshavin found time and space on the left flank to
find the Arsenal skipper, who swept a left-footed drive
past Cerny inside the box.
Young's block stopped Arshavin doubling the north Londoners'
advantage, before Taarabt forced Szczesny into a low
save to prevent a curling effort finding the net.
The shot began a bright spell for the west Londoners,
who saw Connolly blaze over and felt aggrieved not to
receive a penalty when Taarabt went down under substitute
Francis Coquelin's challenge.
Arsenal, having seen a rasping Ramsey effort come close,
were close again through Gervinho.
The indomitable van Persie showed strength and skill
to lose his marker and cross for the Ivory Coast international,
who somehow put wide from close range.
Arsenal continued to press for a second as the game
drew to a close but were thwarted, with Ramsey and van
Persie both unable to find the net.
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