Connolly: Patience The Key

Matt Connolly has outlined a tough encounter against his former club but insists there is no reason to be pessimistic.

The former Arsenal defender will be facing the Gunners for the first time since joining QPR in January 2008, and believes that while it’s a special occasion personally, the team needs requires patience and discipline to overcome the high-flying North London club.

He told QPR.co.uk: ‘It will be special to go back to Arsenal but, more importantly than that, we need to try and build on the point we got at Swansea by getting something from the game.’

‘We will have to be patient in our approach because of the way they play.

‘We will need to be disciplined but Wolves got a point there this week so I don’t see any reason why we can’t.’

Connolly came up through the ranks at Highbury before loan spells at AFC Bournemouth and Colchester United saw the young defender impress and earn a move to the upwardly mobile Queens Park Rangers.

He had nothing but praise for the set-up at Arsenal, and stated that they are evidently the reason for his development into a Premier League footballer.

‘Arsenal played a key part in my development,’ he continued.

‘It is a great Club, and it was a great place to come up through.

‘I had some brilliant coaches during my time there, and they helped me with every aspect of my game. I owe them a lot.

‘One of my strong points is being comfortable on the ball and playing out from the back, and that was helped by the importance the coaches at Arsenal put on being good with your feet.’

He has made over 100 appearances for QPR since joining under Luigi de Canio, scoring two goals in the process – including a goal in Neil Warnock’s first game in charge against West Bromwich Albion.