Arsenal suffer hefty 4-0 defeat against QPR in behind-closed-doors friendly… with first-team stars Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu in action ahead of title clash against Man City | HO

Arsenal were thumped 4-0 by QPR in a behind closed doors friendly on Thursday in a bruising defeat without some of their headline stars.

The Gunners are currently without Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka – who has since left the side with injury – who are on England duty, while the likes of  William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kai Havertz are also unavailable, along with seven others.

Mikel Arteta and Co have had just over a week of preparation time ahead of next Sunday’s huge clash with Manchester City in what could be a title-deciding match at the Etihad.

However, the Spanish boss will be hoping for a much-improved showing after watching his side lose heavily against Championship opposition.

First-team stars Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu both started the game, with the Japan international earning himself a new contract earlier this week thanks to his fine form.

Mikel Arteta’s side were handed a bruising defeat by Championship side QPR on Thursday

Takehiro Tomiyasu was given minutes from the start as he continues to recover from an injury

Michael Frey scored twice for QPR – either side of half-time – in the bruising 4-0 defeat

Marti Cifuentes also took the opportunity to rest a few of his first-choice stars, with ex-Arsenal youngster Chris Willock on the bench and Asmir Begovic, Kenneth Paal and Lyndon Dykes not involved.

Ghanaian midfielder Partey had the best early chance with a shot on goal that forced a good save out of QPR’s back-up stopper Joe Walsh, but the Gunners could not find a way through.

Ilias Chair, who earlier this season was sentenced to a year in prison in Belgium after fracturing a truck driver’s skill with a rock on a kayaking trip, was also in action.

He is believed to be appealing the verdict, having also been ordered to pay the truck driver some £13,400 in compensation.

Rangers ultimately dominated the tie, with Michael Frey netting twice either side of half-time, and foals from ex-Liverpool midfielder Elijah Dixon-Bonner and Ziyad Larkeche completing the rout.

While it was not exactly the result that Arteta will have wanted, he will at least have been pleased to see some of his first-teamers get some minutes in their legs after injury lay-offs.

Arteta will at least have been pleased to see some of his younger stars get valuable minutes

Partey has played just 276 minutes across six league games this season – an average of 46 minutes-per-game – while the versatile Tomiyasu has been out since early February with a calf problem.

Equally, seeing the likes of Amario Cozier-Duberry, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Taylor Foran feature heavily will please the boss as his younger emerging talents get a taste of the action against seasoned professional opposition.