Oliver Giroud has presented Arsène Wenger with a selection headache for a busy period of fixtures after picking up a needless and deserved sending-off in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers on Friday night.
The Frenchman was shown a straight red card by the referee, Martin Atkinson, on 53 minutes for pushing his head into that of QPR’s Nedum Onuoha after being shoved by the full-back as he charged down Rob Green’s clearance. Onuoha went down easily but Giroud will be banned for Arsenal’s visit to West Ham on Sunday, to Southampton on New Year’s Day and the FA Cup third-round tie with Hull a week on Sunday.
It is a blow for Giroud, who only recently returned from a broken leg, and also for Wenger as he looks to get Arsenal into the Premier League’s top four. The look of anger and frustration the manager directed towards Giroud as the player departed the field said it all.
“It was a deserved [red card],” said Wenger. “He didn’t kill him but he did touch him and Oliver Giroud knows he made a mistake. He told me he was pushed in the back – maybe the injury he had played on his mind. But it’s unusual for him because he’s normally in control, a calm guy.”
Giroud apologised to his team-mates who had to battle with 10 men for most of the second half and were left clinging on for victory as QPR exerted late pressure having scored through Charlie Austin’s 79th minute penalty. Ultimately, however, Arsenal deserved the win which was secured through goals from Alexis Sánchez, who had earlier missed a penalty, and Tomas Rosicky.
This was also a 400th Premier League victory for Wenger as Arsenal manager. Reflecting on the milestone, he said: “It was tougher today [than the first victory]. I’m happy that I could win 400 because it is not as easy as it looks. The next 400 will be more difficult.”