Just like the last time Arsenal were preparing for a Premier League game, most of the concern about out opponents is centred around one player. It is a bit too simplistic of course, as football is a team game, but just as Raheem Sterling was clearly the danger man for Liverpool on Sunday, it is the QPR striker Charlie Austin that will be foremost in the thoughts of Arsene Wenger as he prepares the Gunners for the home game on Boxing day.
And there is good reason for concern as well, because the 25-year old striker is in red hot form. Austin took a little time to find his feet in the Premier League but it was just a brief time and he is now making his mark, with a hat-trick in QPR’s last game at home to West Brom taking his tally this season to 11 from just 15 games. The fact that Austin is key to his team, with a direct involvement in a staggering 59 percent of their goals does suggest that Arsenal’s job on Friday will be so much easier if Austin is kept quiet.
But Austin poses a different sort of danger to Sterling. He is more of a traditional centre forward and as such should be easier to deal with. What I mean is that Wenger does not have to plan specifically for him as he did with Sterling. That means that Calum Chambers rather than Mathieu Debuchy will probably partner our big German in the centre of defence.
The Gunners will still have to be very careful not to let Austin have any chance to do what he does best and stick the ball in the back of the net. But we should be a more natural back four and will not have to change our nornal game plan too much to cope with one special player.
Can you see Arsenal getting a clean sheet as well as a vital win against QPR?
Austin – 2 goals
Giroud – 2 goals
Cazorla – 2 goals
Sanchez – 2 goals
No problem. No need to stop Austin.
Arsenal 6 – QPR – 2
No problem.
don’t worry, Just stop AUSTIN…… The entire 11 players should man mark austin, forget they have a pacey Leroy fer ….. We are joking with QPR
how could i have forgotten there-s Vargas also!
Charlie austin 11 goals
Danny welbeck 3 goals
Truth does hurt
Even Stone Cold Steve Austin can’t stop Arsenal
COYG
WHAT
I DONT BLAME WELBECK
Wenger has turned him into another target man just like Giroud to link the midfield
when he came into the team
1)he was making behind the defender runs
2)using his pace to his advantage
now all he does is
1)GET THE BALL
2)HOLD THE BALL
3)PASS THE BALL
4)REPEAT THAT FOR 90 MINUTES
Even if he makes 3-4 good runs behind the defenders our players are good enough to find him with the through ball
Wingers philosophy is all wrong .. This possession football is so so so boring to watch .. We need a change
“Possession football”? What are you talking about? Who says we play “possession football”???
Possession football without the possession – Wenger is a genius……..
@Truth hurts…. There is nothing more irritating than you lot blaming everything and everyone else when it comes to players you love in the team.. It’s always someone else’s fault..
This Welbeck rubbish. Why did United sell him in the first place??? Why have United fans always been on his back for being average? The guy has never scored more than 9 goals in a season, no more than 9 goals in a season in his whole career. But now we Wenger has ruined him? smh..
Welbeck will never be a Top striker, he has not got the intelligence, his finishing is laughable, his first touch is a joke. Have you noticed that he spend more time chasing the ball after his own bad first touch?
He has played so many games up front for us already and his goal return is terrible, Sanchez was making runs from the wing and midfield to get onto crosses from our RB/LW. Our so called striker can’t anticipate where the ball will drop, can’t read passes.
So called DONKEY GIROUD has been back for a few games and he is scoring goals, headers, exquisite goals and straight forward goals..
As I keep saying, he was bought to score and assists goals, not running around like a headless chicken all game with no end product..
Welbeck had 12 or 13 goals last year in all apps
First Fabregas and now Heskey. Wenger needs to wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nah…Gibbs must keep Vargas Quiet…Fer could potentially destroy Flamini….and Austin may make mince meat out of Mertesacker
We need to limit balls in the box and second chances. Austin has been successful because of his mentality and position. Limit Vargas and others from getting balls in where he can scavenge and find the net. Win 50/50. Hustle. We’ll win.
I can’t believe we have to be tactical to even beat QPR… Cmion, does every striker in a team we face now be a treat to us… This shows how poor and below average we are… Who the hell is Austin… We should beat them with enough goals.. I Still Believe in the Arsenal Squad… #QPR down, who is next??
I was going to say the same… Now relegation strikers are scaring us.. How we have dropped… smh.
Err this is QPR, we are playing at home and they haven’t gotten a single point away the entire season.. People are losing their heads after a 2-2 draw away at Liverpool damn chill the F*ck out!!!
@ras911 can you blame us, ´cause we have lost our heads against Stoke, Swansea, Leicester, Hull, Spurs and ManU at home, 6 games that we should have won any given day with the players we have, need I say more…
sorry, forgot ALSO Anderlecht at home, not to mention liverpool a few days ago with ONE man advantage, ring any bells…
Arsenal needs new set of fans.
Wow. You guys need a support group website that toots your horn rather than discuss football. Here you go, we’ll win 5-0. Welbeck will get a hat trick. Merry christmas
Forget Austin, last time we tried to stop Sterling and team rhythm was broken. Play as a Big team and Arsenal way. We will be fine.