QPR V Arsenal at Loftus Road Stadium : Match Preview

03 May 2013 14:31
QPR V Arsenal - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Zamora returns ahead of Arsenal visit

QPR will welcome Bobby Zamora back from his three-match ban for the visit of Arsenal on Saturday.

Rangers have already been relegated from the Barclays Premier League and could still be without on-loan Tottenham 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, both having undergone surgery.

There will be no let up for boss Harry Redknapp, with Champions League qualification on the agenda for Arsene Wenger's side.

But looking towards the future, with a number of established internationals in his ranks, Redknapp can expect a busy summer of batting off phone calls from Premier League managers hoping to poach him of his star talent.

The 66-year-old has already said top money will have to be paid for the likes of Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who is reportedly a target for Arsenal.

"Well, Arsene Wenger will be here if he's interested (in signing Cesar), I'm sure he will speak to me then," Redknapp said.

"He is a top goalkeeper so I could well understand that, but it would take a good offer. He's a good keeper. You have to get your value. He's a Brazilian keeper a great lad and he will cost money."

Arsenal will again be without suspended striker Olivier Giroud.

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

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (rib) remains sidelined, while midfielder Abou Diaby (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Arsenal head to Loftus Road on the back of a seven-match unbeaten league run which has moved them into fourth place - one point behind Chelsea and two ahead of Tottenham, albeit having played a match more.

Chelsea, who last night reached the Europa League final, head to Manchester United on Sunday, before then hosting Spurs next Wednesday.

Wenger challenged his men to focus on delivering the required performance themselves, rather than worry about whether their rivals will drop points.

"The only thing we know is it can only be decisive if we win our games. That is compulsory," he said.

"We focus on winning our games and then look at the results of other teams.

"The most important in that is not to lift your head, just focus on our job and continue our strong run."

While Arsenal may be targeting the Champions League, it will be the npower Championship for QPR next season.

Wenger, though, warned against underestimating the challenge posed by Harry Redknapp's squad.

"It can happen yes, that they play under less pressure, with less fear. It can be of course very dangerous," said Wenger, who must again do without 17-goal striker Olivier Giroud as he serves the second of a three-match suspension.

"I still believe that the match will be decided by the quality of our performance.

"If we continue to play like we do, we will make it and that's what we focus on."


Source: PA