Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Arsenal

Queens Park Rangers welcome the first of two upcoming North London visitors on Wednesday evening as Arsenal travel to Loftus Road in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur make the trip across the capital this weekend as Rangers have the opportunity to make a big impression on the Champions League race.

Hoops boss Chris Ramsey will be far more concerned with matters at the other end of the table, though, with his side only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.

QPR survived their weekend off without falling into the drop zone as Burnley and Aston Villa directly below them both lost, while neither Sunderland nor Hull City could pull away.

Arsenal have played twice since Rangers were last in action, recovering from their damaging Champions League loss to Monaco in midweek by beating Everton 2-0 on Sunday.

Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky goals saw the Gunners cement third in the table, but faith is not yet restored following their 3-1 first-leg loss at home to the French outfit.

Their win over the Toffees was nevertheless Arsenal's ninth in their last 10 domestic matches, and under-pressure manager Arsene Wenger is likely to stick with a similar lineup.

January signing Gabriel Paulista enjoyed a solid Premier League bow after being preferred to Per Mertesacker in defence and could be given the nod again.

With Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini all sidelined, Wenger will be desperate for Francis Coquelin to be given the all clear to anchor the midfield after suffering facial injuries against Everton.

Santi Cazorla may be dropped in alongside him to accommodate the recall of Danny Welbeck on the wing. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's start last time out was his first in six weeks and he is unlikely to make two games in three days.

Ramsey is also majorly short of options in the centre of the park, with Joey Barton's needless red card in the 2-1 defeat to Hull City now proving costly as he joins Leroy Fer, Sandro and Alejandro Faurlin in being unavailable.

The hosts have little option but to attack and therefore Bobby Zamora is likely to retain his place as Charlie Austin's forward partner in a 4-4-2 formation that would include the creative, but lightweight, Niko Kranjcar in a deeper role.

Injuries to Mauricio Isla, Richard Dunne and Nedum Onuoha leave QPR stretched at the back too. Youngster Paul Furlong should continue in a defence which will also feature Yun Suk-young at right-back and Rio Ferdinand.

Arsenal, who have an FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester United on Monday to look forward to, have won their last three games against the Hoops in all competitions, including a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.

QPR:

Form in Premier League: LLLLWL

Possible starting lineup: Green; Yun, Ferdinand, Caulker, Furlong; Phillips, Henry, Kranjcar, Traore; Austin, Zamora

Arsenal:

Form in Premier League: WWLWWW Form in all competitions: LWWWLW

Possible starting lineup: Ospina; Bellerin, Paulista, Koscielny, Gibbs; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck; Giroud

Sports Mole says: 1-3