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QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings: Alexis Sanchez? Olivier Giroud? Charlie Austin? Who was the star man at Loftus Road?

Sanchez and Giroud netted for Arsenal

Wednesday 04 March 2015 23:01 GMT

Alexis Sanchez celebrates his goal for Arsenal (GETTY IMAGES)

Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez guided Arsenal to a routine 2-1 Premier League victory at struggling QPR, despite Charlie Austin striking back late on.

France striker Giroud's fifth goal in as many games set Arsenal on course, before Sanchez ended a seven-game drought.

Giroud's 13th goal of the season calmed Arsenal who had headed into the break unsettled and unnerved by a spirited effort from relegation battlers Rangers.

Austin set up a fraught finish with a fine 20-yard strike on the turn for Rangers, but Arsenal were still able to cling on for victory.

But who was the man of the match? Click through our player ratings gallery below...

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Show all 22

1/22QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Rob Green 6

Put under pressure much more in the second half. Difficult to criticise him for the two Arsenal. If it wasn’t for him the difference between the sides would have been greater. A strong save to deny Ozil late on.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Suk-Young Yun 5

A danger for Bellerin in the early stages of the game but the Arsenal right back soon worked out what he was trying to do - take advantage of the overlap. Aimless balls forward meant the opposition were able to regroup quickly.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Nedum Onuoha 5

Clashed heads with Caulker towards the end of the first half. He was replaced by Clint Hill minutes before half-time due to injury.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Steven Caulker 5

Effective at defending Arsenal corners. Though he was sloppy when put under pressure by Sanchez and Giroud.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Darnell Furlong 5

Similar to Yun, he chose to push forward and attack the right flank. Very good range of passing too. Defensively, though, he was poor. That was proven when Sanchez easily skipped past him before scoring Arsenal’s second.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Matt Phillips 7

A constant threat on the right side of the QPR midfield. His powerful volley from 25 yards on the hour would have been a contender for goal of the season had it crashed into Ospina’s net. Provided the assist for Austin’s goal.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Karl Henry 4

Often went missing in midfield. Too many misplaced passes from him meant QPR’s attack broke down quickly.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Sandro 6

Did well on his return back from a knee injury. Looked to progress play where possible and fed Austin particularly well. Tired in the second half and was replaced by Niko Kranjcar on 56 minutes.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Junior Hoilett 7

Did well to track back and defend. Stayed close to Rosicky. Always a threat when he got near the Gunners’ penalty area. He was replaced by Mauricio Isla on 73 minutes.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Charlie Austin 7

Threatened the Arsenal defence early on. He wasn’t afraid to shoot either. His goal late on that gave QPR brief hope of getting a point was brilliant.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Bobby Zamora 6

Demonstrated why he can still make an impact in the Premier League even if he did start to tire shortly after half-time.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

David Ospina 6

Relatively comfortable evening. Austin’s shots on target were in the centre of his goal and didn’t trouble the goalkeeper. Beaten by a beautiful effort by the striker - may have done a little better.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Hector Bellerin 6

Got the better of Yun on the left side of the QPR defence numerous times. He was allowed plenty of space on the overlap but his final ball was often poor.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Per Mertesacker 6

Back in central defence after he was on the substitutes’ bench against Everton. He did well against the physical Zamora.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Gabriel Paulista 5

Struggled with the presence of Zamora. He was replaced on 36 minutes by Laurent Koscielny due to injury.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Kieran Gibbs 7

Linked up very well with Sanchez in the second half. His penetrating runs down the left made it difficult for Furlong.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Tomas Rosicky 6

Misplaced pass. Marked well by Hoilett. His creativity was stifled in the first half but in the second he found a slightly better range of passing.

2015 Getty Images

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Francis Coquelin 6

His first match since sustaining a broken nose in the home win against Everton. The game seemed to bypass him at times.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Santi Cazorla 7

His usual skillful self. He started alongside Coquelin in the deep-lying playmaker position but it was only when he drove forward that he was effective.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Mesut Ozil 7

Started the attack that led to Arsenal’s opening goal. Positioned behind Giroud, the German became more important as the game wore on.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Olivier Giroud 7

Not particularly convincing in the first half. He chose more often than not to fire aimlessly from outside the area. That changed in the second half. His goal set Arsenal on their way.

QPR 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings

Alexis Sanchez 8

More of a threat in the second half as he started to cut in from the left. Roamed all over Arsenal’s attack. He should have scored when he was one-on-one with Green. Redeemed himself when he doubled his side’s lead on 70 minutes after skillful play.

The Gunners' superior class and counter-attack quality proved decisive, with Sanchez influential in the build-up to Giroud's goal before pilfering his 19th finish of the campaign.

Arsenal were denied a clear penalty when Karl Henry pulled back Mesut Ozil to stop the German tapping in from two yards, but the visitors were able to shake off referee Kevin Friend's error.

Arsenal's 10th win in 12 games in all competitions keeps them third in the table, even though the Gunners spent the entire first half at Loftus Road struggling for any kind of control.

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