Guilty of complacency

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger offered no excuses for his side's poor performance as their seven-match winning run came to an abrupt end at struggling QPR.

   Wenger on Saturday answered questions on the possibility of finishing second in the Premier League after the Gunners' excellent recent form, but they were brought crashing back to earth by a stronger and hungrier home side.

   Adel Taarabt opened the scoring for QPR in the first half before Samba Diakite wrapped up a 2-1 for the west Londoners following Theo Walcott's equaliser.

   QPR looked nothing like the team that crumbled against Sunderland last weekend and Arsenal were a shadow of the team that had gone unbeaten since Feb 18.

   "Our performance was not good enough to win this kind of game," Wenger said. "QPR had a little bit of extra special commitment.

   "Overall we can only congratulate QPR for their attitude and be unhappy with our own performance. What we produced on the day was not good enough."

   Asked if complacency had been a factor, Wenger added: "It is difficult to single out one reason, but why not?

   "We played against a team who play for survival. We prepared properly but we missed something today and you could see that."

    Thomas Vermaelen was largely responsible for conceding both goals.

   Taarabt easily turned the Belgian before firing home after 22 minutes and he was beaten again in the second period by Jamie Mackie, who squared for Diakite to slam home the winner from 12 metres.

   Bolton's victory at Wolves meant QPR remained in the bottom three, but manager Mark Hughes feels the manner of the win against such high-calibre opposition will give his team renewed confidence in their battle against relegation.

   "We have played really well in our last three home games against some big teams, but I thought this one topped the lot," said the Welshman, whose team still have to face Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham.

   "We played excellent throughout and deserved the win. If we play at that level from now until the end of the season, we will win more games."

    Hughes reserved special praise for captain Joey Barton, who was recalled to the starting XI after being dropped for a poor performance against Liverpool.

   Barton criticised the QPR fans who booed him off against the Reds in his programme notes today and Hughes was pleased by the controversial midfielder's energetic performance.

   "I thought Joey was different class today," Hughes said. "He got a lot of stick last time out because his performance level wasn't high enough and he acknowledged that.

   "I thought the crowd was great today in terms of how they encouraged him and they willed him to a top-class performance and that's what we got from him today."

    The performance of Taarabt, who marked his first Premier League goal by donning a fez handed down to him from the crowd in the celebrations, also delighted Hughes.

   "I was really pleased with him," Hughes said. "That will do him the world of good."

   The game ended on a disappointing note with one of the linesmen appearing to be hit with a small object in injury-time as Robin Van Persie walked over to take a free-kick in the corner.

   QPR said they will wait until today, when the referee's report is due to be filed, before commenting on the incident. Mail on Sunday

Guilty of complacency

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger offered no excuses for his side's poor performance as their seven-match winning run came to an abrupt end at struggling QPR.

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