Here’s the premier league match analysis of Arsenal v Villa and QPR v Man U

Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 1

2 goals from Cazorla with assists from Monreal and Wilshire were enough for Arsenal to win against a Weiman goal assisted by NZogbia

Defensive stats:  Arsenals were good but again an individual error from the GK who should have saved Weimans shot easily prevented a clean sheet when really it should have been nailed on.  Villas stats were terrible.

Shooting stats:  Giroud, Walcott and Cazorla led the shooting stats in that order.  Benteke was quiet for Villa.

pen box touches.  Giroud and Walcott by a mile.

Chances created:  Weimann, Cazorla and Walcott led the way.

Most advanced midfielder:  By far Walcott for Arsenal who was ahead of Giroud.  NZogbia was just behind Benteke for Villa

A repeated tale this seems to be.  The game, although  not in possession stats, which were only 52% to Arsenal, was a procession in terms of chances with total attempts being 24-5.

There’s certainly no need to panic in my mind for those holding Arsenal players.  Walcott showed the sort of stats that you want to see from someone who didn’t score.  Lots of shots in the box and lots of pen box touches plus he created chances and had a very advanced position.  He just couldn’t get his shots on target.  The same  for Giroud but to a more extreme point where he should have scored but just didn’t make the most of the chances.  This is a bit of a trend after the Blackburn game for Giroud which was similar.  However you aren’t the top goal scorer in France without the ability to put the ball in to the net and the goals will come if he continues with these stats.

Cazorla getting 2 goals was interesting.  He had a reasonable amount of shooting chances but not enough to warrant 2 goals it was a case of right place right time and a bit of luck.  He seems to have moved from starting in a central position to starting on the left and drifting in, as you see from his fellow Spaniard Silva.  He has kept a fairly advanced position though and you often see him drifting in and occupying the central space  virtually at the same level as the forwards.  Unfortunately this left Monreal exposed which is one of the reasons why Weimman had such a good game as Monreal got no help from Cazorla at all.

So in summary I’m keeping faith with the main Arsenal players of Walcott and Giroud who despite blanks still put in some good stats.  The defence again I maintain is solid and a clean sheet was there for the asking except for a poor attempt to save the goal by the Arsenal GK.  Benteke was quiet but this was not a game to worry about that and NZogbia was excellent although whether he will add shots and goals to his assist based game has yet to be seen

QPR 0 Man U 2

Rafael scored with an assist from RVP and Giggs got the second assisted by Nani.  RVP left the game early with a hip injury and seems certain to miss the Norwich game next week especially with Madrid the week after.

Defensive stats:  Excellent from Utd although thats not difficult against this team to be fair.  OKish from QPR

Shooting stats:  Nani, Samba and Hernadez led the way

Pen Box touches:  Interestingly Mackie and Samba led these

Chances created:  Ashley Young led the way here.

Most advanced midfielder:  Taarabt predictably led this for QPR.  Nani interestingly led this for Man U.

United, despite equal possession and not that greater differentiation in total shots, created the better chances and won the game easily as QPR didn’t really look like scoring at all until Remy and Hoilett entered the fray. Boswinga started instead of Onouha much to the annoyance of those who had the cheapest QPR midfielder.  After I switched my Man U preference from Rafael to Evans due to the price differential, SAF saying Vidic and Ferdy would be rotated and the fitness of Smalling and Jones (although he is injred again now) returning, Evans didn’t start and Rafael gets a goal and a clean sheet.

Hernandez and RVP started up front .  I’m not a fan of this as normally as it means that RVP almost becomes a number 10 which seems a real waste. Today though this didn’t happen and RVP was still an equal focus of the attack.  RVP is at his best with Rooney behind him creating chances and that really helps solve the United creativity conundrum which is missing without a Fabregas  or Mata type player in the team.  No United midfield player is in the top 10 creating chances column.  Giggs today did his best to fill that role and drifted forward often to good effect.  United met QPR high up the pitch early on and it was this which led to the first goal when Giggs pressed Taarabt in to losing possession, RVP beat the double team to get a shot in and then Taarabt didn’t make enough of an effort to get to the ball before Rafael hammered it  in from outside the penalty area.

Nani and Young started wide and its easy to forget that not so many years ago Nani was the Utd fantasy premier league captain of choice.  He wasn’t as effective here although he did get an assist playing  against a very defensive team.  The problem is rotation in the midfield flank area and Nani’s lack of defensive resolve.  If he could get a run he would be an interesting addition to out squad at £8.2m and good fixtures.  QPR played Utd deep and narrow  and did restrict them on chances  with the negative shooting stats not being too bad.   However, they were  not as good a some of the recent home games of QPR it was still enough for Utd  to win comfortably.

Samba looked a real set piece threat with 2 good headed chances from corners.  When  you think he was marked by Vidic this was some achievement   £5.0m is too rich for me though for a defender from this team on the off chance that he will score.

There’s no one worth owning at the moment in the QPR team in my mind,  maybe Hill as a cheap defender at a push.  Taarabt just isn’t getting in to the box or shooting enough to be an option for me.

Ok that’s the premier league match analysis  for those games on to more