'Silly' Oliver Giroud gets three-match ban for head-butt as Arsenal escape another Premier League draw on Boxing-day

With the injuries plaguing his team, Arsene Wenger thought that victory in the next three games would depend on the ability of his boys to put an end to their previous woes. Arsene Winger would have lost his 600th Arsenal win to the sheer stupidity of his striker Oliver Giroud, but thanks to the effort of Alexis Sanchez and Tomas Rosicky.  Although Queen's Park Ranger pulled one back from the penalty spot, it was not enough to stop Wenger's men from winning the three point at stake.

Alexis Sanchez taking a penelty shootout in the early minutes of the game

Sanchez feeling disappointed after losing a penalty kick

Arsenal men were cruising comfortably towards  three points with one goal up, thanks to Alexis Sanchez who had recovered from an early penalty loss after he was fouled by former Arsenal full-back Armand Traore to open the scoring, when Giroud lost control just minutes into the second half and head-butted Nedum Onuoha in the 57th minute of the game because he thought the defenfder had pushed him. The referee didn't waste time to show him the red card. As a result of this, Asernal men had to defend for the remaining 33minutes of the gaime plus 4minutes extra time.

Oliver Giroud head-butting Nedum Onuoha of QPR

The red card on Giroud means that he will miss the next three games,which are against West Ham on Sunday, Southampton on New Year’s Day and Hull in the FA Cup respectively. 

Nedum Onuoha falling to the ground after receiving a head-butt from Oliver Giroud

There was panic inside the Emirates stadiumas Harry Redknapp's men pulled a goal backthrough a penalty from Charlie Austin. Then later on, Mathieu Flamini cleared a header from Eduardo Vargas from beneath his own bar and also Kieran Gibbs was lucky not to have caused another penalty for a clumsy foul which brought down Bobby Zamora.

Oliver Giroud red-carded after the head-butt on Nedum Onuoha

Sanchez saw the chance to get his momentum rolling forward again after missing three games without scoring, but he missed the opportunity to take an ealy lead when he stepped out to take the penaltykick but Rob Green read him really well, guessed the right way and kept it out with a strong hand, diving low to his left hand side. this miss by Sanchez begged question why Santi Cazorla had not taken the kick. Mikel Arteta has always taken the kick, but he is sidelined with injuries and Cazorla had stepped up to take the kick against Stoke and Newcastleand has scored from the spot.The one against Newcastle was a chip that he sort of used to mark his birthda, a Panenka-styl chip that got the fans thrilled to a thunderous clap.

Alexis Sanchez heading Arsenal into the lead

 Harry Redknapp changed to his usual formation of five-man defence with Rio Ferdinand called back for the first time since october. It was a dificulat game for his men against an attacking side like Arsenal. 

Oliver Giroud celebrating with Sanchez after the Chilean's opener.

Arsenal dominated possession and continued to pour forward in the rain after the missed penalty but did not find it easy to penetrate a deep back-line and Rangers resisted well enough not to conceed, although, until they went behind, Redknapp’s team offered almost no attacking threat on Arsenal.

Tomas Rosicky scoring his first goal of the season

 Steven Caulker of Ranger made a couple of vital interceptions and important headers and Green made another flying save to push away a free-kick taken by Giroud, before Sanchez appeared to make amends for his earlier miss by heading his team into the lead, eight minutes before the interval. It was a relieve for the Chilean who had missed out a penalty in the early minutes of the game.

Tomas Rosicky celebrating his goal for Arsenal

Tomas Rosicky, starting his first Premier League game of the season, started a move which swept wide to Kieran Gibbs on the left, via Welbeck and Cazorla, and he picked out a cross to the far post where wing-back Traore failed to track back with Sanchez, who converted a simple header.

For Traore it was not a happy return to his former club: conceding a penalty and losing his man for a goal. Having gone behind, Rangers responded and became more adventurous in possession. Caulker was close to an instant equaliser with a glancing header which drifted narrowly side of the goal.

The television review showed Caulker was offside but there was no flag.  

Alexis Sanchez (right), Danny Welbeck (centre with a team-mate) Tomas Rosicky goal

Mathieu Debuchy of Arsenal, restored to full-back after playing in the centre of Arsenal’s defence against Newcastle and Liverpooldue to the absence of Chambers, offered a reminder of his attacking qualities with a charge down the flank, soon after the restart. His low cross flashed across goal with Sanchez closest to reaching it.

The second had started in similar fashion to the first, until everything changed by Giroud’s red card who thought that Nedum Onuoha fouled him.

It was not the most ferocious assault by any means but he went for Onuoha and it happened right in front of referee Martin Atkinson, who immediately pulled out his red card.

Austin taking a penalty shoot on the spot

 Giroud became the fourth Arsenal player sent off this season and Wenger did not seem at all impressed, offering the slightest shake of his head as his look of disappointment chased Giroud down the tunnel. He will miss games against West Ham on Sunday, Southampton on New Year’s Day and Hull in the FA Cup.

The change Redknapp made for his side did not make any effect as Rosicky made it two from Sanchez who gave him a pass after dribbling four men just inches from the 18-yard box. 

Austin scores his 12th Premier League goal for his side QPR

The goal should have soothed nerves at the Emirates but Rangers got back into the game, 12 minutes from time, when Atkinson decided Hoilett was tripped by Debuchy.

It was debatable, but Austin slammed the penalty straight down the middle for his 12th Premier League goal of the season and one to give his team some pep and hope. 

Austin celebrating his goal after scoring on the spot

 It was a boxing-day full of goals withh all Premier League teams locking heads for the title. All the top-five teams won except Westham who lost a superlative and commanding display of Chelsea. Other teams that recorded victory are; Liverpool,Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur, Swansea, Hull City and so on. the next matches will be played on sunday the 28th of Dec. 2014.