 Thursday, 29th Dec 2011 19:06 by Clive Whittingham QPR visit Arsenal on New Year’s Eve, just as they did in 1994 when Danish midfielder John Jensen broke his long scoring drought for the Gunners. The result though went Rangers’ way. Recent MeetingsQPR 0 Arsenal 6, Saturday January 27, 2001, FA Cup We’re fast approaching the ten year anniversary of QPR’s last win in the FA Cup, the worst record of any club at any level in the country. Perhaps the trauma of what happened last time we dared to win one has put the club off ever doing so again. Having laboured through a Third Round tie and replay that went to extra time against Second Division strugglers Luton, First Division side QPR pulled Arsenal at home in the Fourth Round. They made a good start in front of a capacity crowd, Peter Crouch had a header cleared from the goal mouth and another that bounced down right on the line after hitting the bar but stayed out before the Gunners set about a systematic demolition of Gerry Francis’ team. Chris Plummer kneed in a low cross for an embarrassing own goal opener, then Sylvain Wiltord’s low shot deflected into the net off former Arsenal man Matthew Rose after Dennis Bergkamp had drawn Ludek Miklosko from his line. The second half was embarrassingly one sided. Another own goal, this time from Rose at close range under pressure from Wiltord as Ashley Cole crossed, started the rout and Wiltord then volleyed the fourth after being left unmarked at a corner. A swift counter attack constructed by Bergkamp and Ray Parlour set up Robert Pires for number five and the sixth was bagged by Bergkamp himself after Maddix’s pass out of defence was intercepted by Patrick Viera. QPR: Miklosko, Perry (Koejoe (Ngonge)), Carlisle, Plummer (Connolly), Rose, Baraclough, Peacock, Langley, Darlington, Crouch, Kiwomya Subs not used: Harper, Morrow Bookings: Carlisle, Baraclough Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Stepanovs, Adams, Cole, Lauren (Grimandi), Viera (Vivas), Parlour, Pires (Malz), Bergkamp, Wiltord Subs not used: Henry, Manninger Bookings: Cole, Lauren Goals: Plummer og 32, Wiltord 33, 56, Rose og 49, Pires 58, Bergkamp 74 QPR 1 Arsenal 1, Saturday March 2, 1996, Premiership The last Premiership meeting between these two sides was towards the end of QPR’s 1995/96 relegation season. Arsenal were a steady midtable side at this stage, supplemented by Dennis Bergkamp up front and managed by Bruce Rioch. This game is often forgotten by Rangers fans amid the more notable disasters of that campaign such as the 98th minute Man Utd equaliser and Spurs 3-2 victory after QPR had led 2-0, but the R’s dropped another two crucial points here after taking the lead. Kevin Gallen kept up his impressive goal scoring record against the Gunners with a crisp first half finish but Arsenal levelled in the second half thanks to an explosive volley from Bergkamp at the School End. I maintain that Bergkamp is the best opposition player I’ve seen play against QPR in my time watching the club. QPR finished second bottom and were relegated, Arsenal climbed up as high as fifth by the end of the campaign. QPR: Sommer, Bardsley, Challis, Ready, Yates, Barker, Holloway, Quashie, Impey (Dichio), Gallen, Sinclair Subs not used: Goodridge, Plummer Goal: Gallen Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Linighan, Morrow (Rose), Winterburn, Platt, Parlour, Merson, Bergkamp, Hartson Subs not used: Hillier, Hughes Goal: Bergkamp Arsenal 3 QPR 0, Tuesday December 26, 1995, Premiership QPR’s last visit to this part of the world was on Boxing Day 1995, earlier in the relegation season, and was yet another meek performance on the road from Ray Wilkins’ men. Rangers did almost make it through to half time but shipped the opening goal in the final minute of the first period, Ian Wright the scorer. After the break, attacking the North Bank at Highbury, Arsenal added two more through Paul Merson and in truth were thoroughly good value for a one-sided 3-0 win despite the absence of Bergkamp from the starting 11. Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams, Winterburn, Merson, Platt, Clarke, Jensen, Wright, Dickov Subs not used: Linighan, Helder, Hartson Goals: Merson 2, Wright QPR: Sommer, Bardsley, McDonald, Yates, Brevett, Sinclair, Barker, Wilkins (Dichio 74), Impey, Gallen (Holloway 66), Hateley Subs not used: Ready Previous ResultsHead to Head >>> Arsenal wins 19 >>> Draws 14 >>> QPR wins 14 2000/01 QPR 0 Arsenal 6* 1995/96 QPR 1 Arsenal 1 (Gallen) 1995/96 Arsenal 3 QPR 0 1994/95 QPR 3 Arsenal 1 (Gallen, Impey, Ready) 1994/95 Arsenal 1 QPR 3 (Gallen, Impey, Allen) 1993/94 QPR 1 Arsenal 1 (Penrice) 1993/94 Arsenal 0 QPR 0 1992/93 Arsenal 0 QPR 0 1992/93 QPR 0 Arsenal 0 1991/92 QPR 0 Arsenal 0 1991/92 Arsenal 1 QPR 1 (Bailey) 1990/91 Arsenal 2 QPR 0 1990/91 QPR 1 Arsenal 3 (Wegerle) 1989/90 QPR 2 Arsenal 0 (Wilkins, Wegerle) 1989/90 QPR 2 Arsenal 0* (Sansom, Sinton) 1989/90 Arsenal 0 QPR 0* 1989/90 Arsenal 3 QPR 0 1988/89 QPR 0 Arsenal 0 1988/89 Arsenal 2 QPR 1 (Falco) 1987/88 Arsenal 0 QPR 0 1987/88 QPR 2 Arsenal 0 (Byrne, McDonald) 1986/87 QPR 1 Arsenal 4 (McDonald) 1986/87 Arsenal 3 QPR 1 (Bannister) 1985/86 Arsenal 3 QPR 1 (Bannister) 1985/86 QPR 0 Arsenal 1 1984/85 QPR 1 Arsenal 0 (James) 1984/85 Arsenal 1 QPR 0 1983/84 Arsenal 0 QPR 2 (Stewart, Fenwick) 1983/84 QPR 2 Arsenal 0 (Gregory, Neill) 1978/79 QPR 1 Arsenal 2 (Shanks) 1978/79 Arsenal 5 QPR 1 (McGee) 1977/78 QPR 2 Arsenal 1 (Shanks, Bowles) 1977/78 Arsenal 1 QPR 0 1976/77 QPR 2 Arsenal 1 (Francis, Hollins) 1976/77 QPR 2 Arsenal 1** (Masson, Webb) 1976/77 Arsenal 3 QPR 2 (Thomas, McLintock) 1975/76 QPR 2 Arsenal 1 (McLintock, Francis) 1975/76 Arsenal 2 QPR 0 1974/75 QPR 0 Arsenal 0 1974/75 Arsenal 2 QPR 2 (Bowles 2) 1973/74 Arsenal 1 QPR 1 (Bowles) 1973/74 QPR 2 Arsenal 0 (Bowles, Givens) 1968/69 QPR 0 Arsenal 1 1968/69 Arsenal 2 QPR 1 (Wilks) 1921/22 QPR 1 Arsenal 2* (Smith) 1921/22 Arsenal 0 QPR 0* 1920/21 QPR 2 Arsenal 0* (Chandler, O’Brien) * - FA Cup ** - League Cup ConnectionsFrank McLintock >>> Arsenal 1964-1973 >>> QPR 1973-1977 Frank McLintock was born in the Gorbals area of Glasgow and turned down a career in ship building to pursue his dream of professional football in England with Leicester City. He signed pro terms at Filbert Street in 1957 on his seventeenth birthday, made his senior debut in 1959, and went on to win a league Cup in 1964 and lose in two FA Cup finals. He trained as a painter and decorator and sign writer while with Leicester, and even the day before they played Spurs in an FA Cup final he worked a day’s shift before getting the team coach down to London. McLintock was a wing half in those days, forming a feared half back partnership with Colin Appleton and Ian King and eventually attracting the interest of Arsenal. The Gunners spent a club record £80,000 on him in October 1964 and moved him from attacking midfield to centre half. Bertie Mee made him captain in 1967 but he handed a transfer request in two years later after successive League Cup Final defeats. Mee persuaded him to stay and they both reaped the rewards as Arsenal won the Fairs Cup in 1970 and a league and FA Cup double in 1971. He was named the Football Writers’ Player of the Year in that double season. In 1972/73 they finished second in the league and lost in the FA Cup final to Leeds. At the end of the campaign Arsenal sold McLintock to Queens Park Rangers for £20,000 and it was the famous R’s side of 1976 which McLintock rated as the best he played in, despite its lack of trophies. McLintock partnered Dave Webb at the heart of the Rangers defence and recently told QPR’s official website: “Bertie Mee didn't think I was capable of playing in the top flight any more, but I knew I could still produce the goods at the highest level. It was a simple choice to make - I didn't want my family to leave London. I knew very little about QPR as a Club, but they'd recently got promoted so I saw it as a great opportunity, a great challenge if you like. I didn't go there expecting much, but I received one of the biggest surprises of my life. The quality within the QPR squad was something else. It took me totally by surprise. I arrived at QPR intent on proving a point to Bertie Mee and as it contrived a few years later, Arsenal dropped down the table and we were up there competing for the title. We were the best football team in the country that year, probably in the whole of Britain. It was a magnificent team to play for. It was a joy to behold playing in that team and the team spirit at the time was as good as I'd known throughout my playing career. They were four of the best years of my life. I was so happy during my time at QPR and that's me speaking straight from the heart.'' McLintock was popular with his QPR team mates of the time as well. Don Givens told QPRNet: “We had someone in Frank McLintock who was a marvellous influence on the team, he’d come from Arsenal where things were done at a different level and he tried to introduce those things to QPR and help make it better for us. He didn’t always succeed on the club side of things but he did help the team. He was probably the most influential player I’ve ever lined up with.” He made 162 appearances for Rangers between 1973 and 1977. He scored five goals in that time with two of them coming against his former Arsenal team mates – one in 1975/76 and the other a season later. McLintock, who won nine caps for Scotland, had unsuccessful spells as a manager at Leicester, who were relegated under his charge despite him signing old QPR team mates Dave Webb and Eddie Kelly, and Brentford before retiring to a life of after dinner speaking and punditry on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday programme. He turned 72 earlier this week. Others >>> Armand Traore, Arsenal 2006-2011, QPR 2011-present >>> Jay Bothroyd Arsenal trainee, QPR 2011-present >>> Jay Simpson, Arsenal 2007-2010, QPR (loan) 2009-2010 >>> Matthew Connolly, Arsenal 2006-2008, QPR 2008-present >>> Frankie Simek, Arsenal 2003-2005, QPR (loan) 2004 >>> Matthew Hislop, Arsenal trainee, QPR 2005-2007 >>> Shabazz Baidoo, Arsenal trainee, QPR 2004-2008 >>> Dom Shimmin, Arsenal trainee, QPR 2005-2008 >>> Jerome Thomas, Arsenal 2001-2004, QPR (loan) 2002 >>> Brian McGovern, Arsenal 1997-2000, QPR (loan) 1999-2000 >>> Chris Kiwomya, Arsenal 1995-1998, QPR 1998-2001 >>> Andy Linighan, Arsenal 1990-1997, QPR (loan) 1998-1999 >>> Steve Morrow, Arsenal 1988-1997, QPR 1997-2001 >>> Matthew Rose, Arsenal 1994-1997, QPR 1997-2007 >>> Lee Harper, Arsenal 1994-1997, QPR 1997-2001 >>> Stewart Houston, Arsenal (coach) 1990-1996, QPR (manager) 1996-1997 >>> Bruce Rioch, Arsenal (manager) 1995-1996, QPR (coach) 1996-1997 >>> Gus Caesar, Arsenal 1984-1991, QPR (loan) 1990 >>> Kenny Sansom, Arsenal 1980-1988, QPR 1989-1991 >>> Don Howe, Arsenal 1964-1966, (manager) 1983-1986, (coach) 1997-2003, QPR 1989-1991 >>> Bobby Gould, Arsenal 1968-1970, QPR (coach) 1990-1991 >>> David Seaman, QPR 1986-1990, Arsenal 1990-2003 >>>Jimmy Carter, QPR 1985-1987, Arsenal 1991-1995 >>> Paul Barron, Arsenal 1978-1980, QPR 1985-1988 >>> Clive Allen QPR 1978-1980, 1981-1984, Arsenal 1980 >>> John Hollins, QPR 1975-1979, Arsenal 1979-1983 >>> Terry Mancini, QPR 1971-1974, Arsenal 1974-1976 >>> Eddie Kelly, Arsenal 1969-1976, QPR 1976-1977 >>> Dave Metchick, QPR 1968-1970, Arsenal 1970 >>> Bill Dodgin Arsenal 1952-1961, QPR (manager) 1968 >>> Adam Haywood, Arsenal 1896-1899, QPR 1899-1900 Memorable MatchArsenal 1 QPR 3, Saturday December 31, 1994, Premiership John Jensen, it turned out, was signed by Arsenal because his agent, Rune Hauge, had been giving Arsenal boss George Graham bungs in exchange for signing his players – an offence Graham later served a 12 month ban for. Initially though it was thought to be his performances for Denmark at Euro 1992 that attracted the Gunners. The Danes, you may recall, were only admitted to the tournament at late notice after Yugoslavia were disqualified amid a breakup of the country. They went on to win the whole thing, beating Germany 2-0 in the final with a goal from Jensen sealing the win. It seemed strange therefore that Jensen struggled so much to score for the Gunners during his time there. QPR arrived at Highbury on New Year’s Eve 1994 by which time Jensen had clocked up 98 appearances without a goal, much to the amusement of the Arsenal fans who would cry ‘SHOOT’ at him whenever he received the ball. Well QPR have always been charitable in such situations and sure enough midway through the second half the curly haired holding midfielder collected the ball on the corner of the penalty area and curled a fine shot beyond Tony Roberts and into the net to lift the roof off Arsenal’s famous old stadium. He’d already tested Roberts, recalled at the expense of Sieb Dykstra, from distance earlier in the game and there was a sad inevitability about it all for the QPR fans massed at the Clock End and, as was often the case for this fixture in those days, in most other areas of the ground as well. And if you’d bought the papers on New Year’s Day you’d think that was all that happened. Pictures of Jensen were splashed across every page, with the actual score and story of the match buried deep within the text, if mentioned at all. In fact Jensen’s goal was mere consolation in a comprehensive 3-1 QPR victory – their first win at Highbury in a decade. Rangers, missing Trevor Sinclair through suspension and therefore forced to select much maligned youngster Michael Meaker on the wing, opened the scoring in the first three minutes. Les Ferdinand crossed into the box for Kevin Gallen, unmarked, to tuck the opening goal past David Seaman’s stand in Vince Bartram in the Arsenal goal. Gallen had already shot wide from distance by this stage and it was clear, after a spate of goalless draws between the two sides, that Rangers were in the mood. Ferdinand and Impey both went close to increasing the lead before half time. Jensen’s goal, which turned out to be the only one of 138 Arsenal appearances, equalied but Rangers pulled clear in the final ten minutes. First Andy Impey crossed through the corridor of uncertainty between keeper and defence for Bradley Allen to stab home at the back post, and then Impey himself headed in at the far stick after Bardsley’s cross had deceived Bartram. Impey, an Arsenal fan, made a habit of scoring and playing well against the Gunners in those days and his goal was just rewards for a fine display. Both Allen and Impey missed good chances to make it four in the dying embers of the game. The Arsenal fans made t-shirts for those who were there when Jensen scored, QPR responded in kind with an additional line printed underneath: “…and Gallen, and Allen, and Impey.” Sadly for me, I don’t qualify to wear one. I was indeed there at the game but these were the days when I would be sent on my way ten minutes from time with my ageing and not-very-steady-on-his-feet grandfather to get to the tube before the crowds piled in. I was waiting for him outside the bog when Allen scored, and we were outside on the road when Impey made it three. Typical. Arsenal: Bartram, Dixon, Bould, Keown, Winterburn, Schwarz, Jensen, Parlour, Campbell, Smith (Clarke 75), Wright Subs not used: Linighan, Harper Goal: Jensen 63 QPR: Roberts, Bardsley, McDonald, Maddix, Wilson, Meaker, Barker, Hodge, Impey, Ferdinand (Allen 48), Gallen Subs not used: Yates, Dykstra Goals: Gallen 3, Allen 75, Impey 76 Highlights >>> QPR 0 Arsenal 6 2000/01 >>> Arsenal 1 QPR 3 94/95 >>> QPR 1 Arsenal 3 1990/91 >>> QPR 2 Arsenal 0, FA Cup replay 1990 >>> Arsenal 2 QPR 2 74/75 >>> QPR 2 Arsenal 0 73/74 Tweet @loftforwords Pictures – Action Images Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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