Arsenal rose into the Premier League top four after Robin Van Persie scored the only goal at the Emirates Stadium to see off a spirited QPR side.
The Dutchman was chasing Alan Shearer’s record of 36 goals in a calendar year but had to settle for one less ending 2011 as the Gunners match winner once again. It was fitting that Van Persie was the man to score Arsenal’s final goal of the year striking the ball low past Radek Cerny on the hour mark to send Arsene Wenger’s side into the top four at the expense of London rivals Chelsea. It was a deserved victory for the home side who missed a host of chances during the 90 minutes although QPR did have their moments with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jay Bothroyd wasting chances early on. Neil Warnock will now be nervously looking over his shoulder after his side slipped to 17th and now sit just two points above the drop zone.
He will be unhappy that his side failed to take advantage of Arsenal’s slow start to the game with Wright-Phillips and Bothroyd going close in the early stages before the home side woke from their slumber. It took the Gunners just over 15 minutes to create their first clear cut opportunity but Van Persie could only shoot straight at Cerny from a tight angle after twisting and turning into space. He then glanced a header wide of the post before poking the ball just over after escaping the clutches of Luke Young. The Dutchman was having a similar afternoon to the one he had on Boxing Day against Wolves and missed another volleying over after being found by Theo Walcott’s cross. Aaron Ramsey then had his volley cleared off the line by Joey Barton before Cerny thwarted Mikel Arteta punching away the midfielders strike.
It looked like it was going to be one of those games for Arsenal as Walcott dragged the ball wide early in the second half despite being one-on-one after being sent clear by Ramsey. However the winger’s blushes were spared as the clock approached the hour mark as Van Persie struck for his 35th goal of 2011 latching onto Andriy Arshavin’s through ball and cooly finishing first past Cerny to ease the tension around the Emirates and put the Gunners into the top four heading into 2012.
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