Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has questioned Arsenal’s commitment in their latest English Premier League match against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday.
The Gunners entered the fixture on a seven-match winning streak, but failed to maintain their points advantage over Chelsea and bitter north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers.
“Something was missing today,” said Wenger. “In the Premier League if you miss something on the commitment front you are beaten. That was the result of the situation today.
“We can only congratulate QPR for their attitude and be unhappy with our own performance. It was very frustrating because they left us the ball and waited for our mistakes. Our performance was not good enough to win this type of game. What we produced was not good enough. In the duels they (QPR) had a little bit of extra special commitment.”
Despite possessing the ball for roughly 68% of the game, two defensive errors cost the Gunners a shot at three points at Loftus Road on Saturday.
Goals from Adel Taarabt and Samba Diakite propelled the home side to victory in front of 18,033 supporters.
Nevertheless, Queens Park Rangers are still in the relegation zone, while Arsenal remain in third place, level on points with Spurs.
Now then, Arsenal may be in third place, but they did allow Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle United to gain three points on them in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification.
The Gunners and Spurs are both on 58 points with Arsenal holding the slimmest of leads on goal difference, while Chelsea and Newcastle United are on 53 points through 31 league games.
With the race for the last two Champions League qualifying spots heating up, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to qualify for Europe’s premier club football competition in 2012-13.
“It’s so tight for third and fourth place,” said Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. “It’s going to be close, I wouldn’t like to call it.
“If we get five wins we will get Champions League football next season, I’m sure of that. I would love to get third, I would love to finish above Arsenal if I can.”
Although Redknapp “wouldn’t like to call it”, I would.
I’ve got Redknapp’s Spurs and Wenger’s Gunners qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Furthermore, I like Newcastle United to finish above Chelsea and qualify for the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League.
Which Premier League will fail to qualify for European football next season?
A) Arsenal; B) Tottenham Hotspur; C) Chelsea; D) Newcastle United
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