Arsenal scored the fastest goal of the season to beat QPR to stay in contention for the champions league spot next season...

Queens Park Rangers 0 Arsenal 1

Arsenal scored the fastest goal of the season – after just 20 seconds from Theo Walcott – but will now have a long, long wait. By the time they compete again, facing Wigan Athletic a week on Tuesday, Chelsea will have played three Premier League matches; Tottenham Hotspur two.

Given Chelsea and Spurs face each other in that sequence – this coming Wednesday – Arsenal’s rivals cannot take maximum points. But, by the time of that next game at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s destiny will be far clearer – and so will be the degree of pressure on them.

In truth, though, after narrowly squeaking through this encounter they know two wins from their final two games and it will, surely, be another season of Champions League football at the Emirates. But that is not as simple as it seems either as they also face Newcastle away and they are fighting for their lives.

It is all superbly poised as Arsène Wenger conceded in what amounted to a bullish statement from the Arsenal manager.

“We have got the momentum compared to two months ago,” he said, reflecting on a fourth away victory in a row and eight matches unbeaten. “We are going for it.” They are in terms of determination and desire but as with their previous away win, at Fulham, this was far from convincing with some milky performances, not least from the anaemic Lukas Podolski.