Gooner Talk

Robin van Persie’s goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at the Emirates on New Years Eve but left the skipper one short of equalling Alan Shearer’s record of goals scored in a calendar year.

The Gunners dominated the first half but failed to capitalise on their chances, the best of which came after 15 minutes when van Persie’s slick strike was foiled by Radek Cerny. The Dutchman kept up the pressure throughout the first half but to no avail.

QPR looked more lively after the break but it was the hosts that finally went ahead on the hour mark as van Persie struck home after being fed by Andrey Arshavin.

Their three points raise Arsenal to fourth place in the table, two points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea who lost at home to Aston Villa.

Arsenal are 1.29 shots to win their derby game against QPR at the Emirates and despite defensive injury worries they really should beat the Hoops.

The Gunners come into the game on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw against Wolves but they have still picked up 26 points from their last 12 games and that ratio, over the course of an entire campaign, would have been enough to win them the title last season.

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Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has been offered a two-month loan deal and could finalise his much-anticipated move back to north London as early as this weekend, according to reports.

The Gunners’ top goal scorer has been training at London Colney since the MLS season finished, and with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger desperate to secure cover for African Nations Cup-bound pair Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho, a short-term deal seemed likely.

Reports last night claimed that a deal was already on the table for the 34-year-old, but it appears that formal contact with Henry’s representative Darren Dein has only been made in the last few hours.

“I hope everything works out as everyone is expecting. It’s terrific news for supporters of Arsenal,” Ex-Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn told Sky Sports News.

“Thierry Henry is a winner. If he can make that rub off on players around him it can only be good for them. I hope everything fits into place.”

Arsenal failed to find a winner against ten-man Wolves in a match which could have lifted the Gunners back into the Premier League’s top four.

Arsene Wenger’s side took an eighth minute lead through Ivorian striker Gervinho. Loanee Yossi Benayoun, making his first Premier League start for the club, threaded a pass through and Gervinho took his time before slotting the ball past Wayne Hennessey.

However, seven minutes before the break Steven Fletcher drew Wolves level in fortuitous circumstances. Stephen Hunt produced a shot from the edge of the area that deflected off the Scottish striker and wrong-footed Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal.

Visiting goalkeeper Hennessey was called into action on numerous occasions after the restart, with two superb saves from Robin van Persie and Per Mertesacker.

On 75 minutes, Nenad Milijas was handed a straight red card by Stuart Attwell for a high challenge on Mikel Arteta.

The Wolves rearguard held firm despite a large amount of pressure, with Arsenal now going into Saturday’s game against QPR rueing missed several opportunities to take advantage of Chelsea and Liverpool’s slip-ups.

Arsenal are red-hot favourites to beat Wolves at the Emirates on Tuesday, and at a top priced 1.25 are fully expected to notch a comfortable victory against Mick McCarthy’s men.

The Gunners bounced back from a 1-0 defeat at Man city to beat Villa 2-1 away and maintain their challenge for a top four finish and this really should be a stroll in the park for them.

Robin van Persie will surely be relishing the prospect of terrorising the Wolves back-line, and this is surely a golden opportunity for him to edge close to setting a new record for Premier League goals in a calender year.

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Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh has once again bemoaned his lack of playing time, telling the French media that he’ll consider his future at the end of the season.

The Moroccan international has started just one Premier League game this term and was tipped to leave when the transfer window reopens next month.

However, both his agent and Chamakh himself have rebuffed speculation linking him with a move away from the Emirates despite several European sides showing tentative interest.

“I can not stay forever in this situation. I’m 27, I’m a competitor, I want to play, I agree with many things here [at Arsenal] because it works. But I am absolutely certain that it will not stay this way next season”, Chamakh told Sud Ouest.

“I started with the idea of finishing the season here. My priority is to stay in England [if I leave].”

Chamakh will have his wish of more playing time granted when he travels to Gabon for the African Nations Cup next month.

Ivorian forward Gervinho also joins him on the plane, giving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger few proven options upfront to choose from in the coming weeks.

Related news: Team news ahead of Tuesday’s match against Wolves.

How many right backs could Manchester United have played last season? To a competent level; Neville, Fabio, Rafael, Brown, O’Shea. This season some of those players are no longer there but Chris Smalling has had added the role to his armoury, and Phil Jones can also play there. Targeting a versatile, aggressive, competitive defender like a younger Gabriel Heinze or Pablo Zabaleta would be an effective contingency signing. 

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