QPR v Arsenal: Premier League Match Preview

03 May 2013 12:40

Arsenal head to relegated Queens Park Rangers on Saturday looking to climb above Chelsea and into third place in the Premier League table.

QPR have nothing but pride to play for when they host Champions League-chasing Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday. A goalless stalemate at Reading last week sealed QPR's fate, with the club set to play in the Football League next season.

QPR will welcome Bobby Zamora back from his three-match ban for the visit of the Gunners this weekend.

However, Rangers could still be without on-loan Tottenham man Andros Townsend (hamstring) and Christopher Samba (knee), although the latter has a late fitness test. Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) and Andrew Johnson (knee) will miss the remainder of the season.

Arsenal will again be without suspended striker Olivier Giroud for Saturday's trip to Loftus Road.

Theo Walcott, who scored against Manchester United, and Lukas Podolski are both pressing for a central attacking role.

In March, a 2-1 defeat against Tottenham saw Arsene Wenger's side slip seven points adrift of their rivals, and they were in serious danger of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time since the 1996-97 season.

However, an eight-match unbeaten streak since that loss to Spurs – which included a 2-0 away win at UEFA Champions League finalists Bayern Munich – has seen Arsenal climb to fourth in the table, although they do have a game in hand on Andre Villas-Boas' side and Chelsea.

QPR did win last season's meeting at home, as goals from Adel Taarabt and Samba Diakite gave them a surprise 2-1 victory.

But a repeat of that is highly unlikely as a motivated Arsenal go in search of an essential three points in their bid for Champions League football next season.

Source: DSG