Arsenal suffer 4-0 defeat to QPR in Thursday behind-closed-doors friendly at Sobha Realty Training Centre

Arsenal lost 4-0 to Queens Park Rangers today in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the TSG Elite Training & Performance Centre, according to the official website of the club.

The majority of the Gunners first-teamers are on international duty after manager Mikel Arteta released them immediately after the penalty shootout victory against FC Porto on March 12.

Many of the squad took advantage of that to travel and enjoy a holiday before they joined up with their international squads, while the duo of Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu stayed behind after opting against being involved with their national teams.

Both featured against QPR, with the Ghana international playing for 64 minutes while his Japan international counterpart tasted action for 45 minutes.

They were the only first-team players to feature in the friendly game and the Championship club proved too much for the Arsenal youth team players involved in action.

The game came too early for Jurrien Timber, but the Netherlands international defender could return to the matchday squad later next month having stepped up his recovery in recent weeks.

The likes of Ovie Ejeheri, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Jimi Gower, Josh Nichols, Osman Kamara, Harrison Dudziak, Ismail Oulad M’Hand, Michal Rosiak, Mauro Bandeira, Ismael Kabia, Elian Quesada-Thorn and Alexei Rojas featured for Arsenal and will use the experience to learn a thing or two going forward.

Partey and Tomiyasu recently returned to full fitness after consistent struggles with injuries this season, and they needed to get more minutes into the tank as they look to be match-fit ahead of the trip to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on March 31.