Premier League preview: Arsenal v QPR

Arsenal welcome QPR to the Emirates Stadium

It did not take long for the Arsenal supporters’ renewed sense of hope and optimism to disappear.

After back-to-back defeats against Norwich City and Schalke, several hundred fans attended the annual AGM on Thursday to voice their dissatisfaction at the club’s chief executive Ivan Gazidis, with the usual topics – key players leaving, lack of expenditure in the transfer market etc. – dominating the tense discussion.

Gunners boss Arsène Wenger - as he does most years - was left to appeal for calm, urging the fans not to “go overboard” despite the club’s recent results, before reiterating his firm belief that the squad can deliver this season.

"This team started in a very dynamic and promising way,” Wenger explained. “We hit the wall in the last two games, which was a bit unexplainable, but the attitude and focus of the team every day is fantastic.

"My job is to deliver a team with the resources we have, and I have never complained about that.

"I want a club to pay players from its own resources, there is no shame in that."

But the Arsenal supporters have heard it all before and expect a return for the vast sums of cash they are forced to pay out for season tickets – in the form of silverware.

With the club down in ninth place after eight games, it’s already looking unlikely that Wenger’s men will end their seven-year trophy drought by becoming champions of England.

Still, there are plenty of Premier League clubs who would kill to be in a similar position to Arsenal, including the top-flight’s bottom side Queens Park Rangers.

Mark Hughes’ team make their way to the Emirates Stadium hoping to capitalise on the recent disharmony at the home of their opponents. QPR recorded a 1-1 draw with Everton last weekend and have enough quality and experience in their squad to seriously worry the Gunners on Saturday, but they have failed to win away from Loftus Road for almost a year now.

Rest assured, if the Rs manage to pull off surprise result at the Emirates, then those who attended the AGM plus over 50,000 others will make their feelings crystal clear.

Reading host Fulham at the same time and will be hoping to hear news of a home win from north London. The Royals, like QPR, only have three points to their name, and are looking to double their tally at home to eighth-placed Fulham.

Southampton have a point more but are also in the relegation zone. On Sunday they welcome Tottenham to St Mary’s and will need to produce their best performance of the season so far in order to take anything from the match.

Newcastle and West Brom meet at St James’ Park in the other 3pm kick-off on Sunday afternoon. The Baggies have started superbly under new manager Steve Clarke and might fancy their chances of beating the Magpies up in the north east.

Back to Saturday and there’s an interesting match-up at the Britannia Stadium between Stoke City and Sunderland.

Both clubs have struggled to get going this season and you could make good arguments for either emerging with all three points.

And West Ham travel to the DW Stadium to face Wigan, hoping to exact revenge for last month’s 4-1 hammering in the League Cup.

Rob Swan - follow me on Twitter

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