Arsenal: RVP and 3 Players Who Must Step Up for Gunners

Arsenal's schizophrenic season hit another low on Saturday with the Gunners 2-1 loss to QPR at Loftus Road.

Arsene Wenger's squad had entered the game on a five-match winning streak but found themselves undone by a fairly poor QPR team. It was a typical Arsenal performance.

This season has been characterized by some incredibly high points and dreadfully low moments. The Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team tends to rear its head at the worst possible times.

Arsenal are currently third in the table, which is frustrating and surprising for Arsenal fans at the same time. The team could easily be chasing the title if they had found any sort of consistency during the season but could also have easily found themselves floundering in sixth.

If Gunners can nab third, and more importantly finish ahead of Tottenham and Chelsea, then this season can be considered a success—even if some Arsenal fans will not see it that way.

In order for that to happen, Arsenal need these four players to raise their game during the rest of the season.

Van Persie Must Regain Scoring Form

It is hard to find fault with Robin van Persie this season, but surely his lack of goals in recent weeks must be a concern for Arsenal supporters.

Arsenal wins have concealed the fact that van Persie had not been playing as well as he had been earlier in the season. Of course, carrying an entire team on one's back, as RvP has done with the Gunners, can take its toll on even the best players.

The Dutchman needs to find his form again if Arsenal are to qualify for the Champions League next season. Chelsea, Tottenham and even Newcastle are within touching distance of the Gunners and could easily overtake them before the season's end.

Arsenal are in the driver's seat to finish third but will need RvP in top gear if they are to stay there. 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Can Be Gunners Secret Weapon

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain does not necessarily need to step up, because he has shown himself capable of playing at this level despite his age and perceived inexperience. 

Arsene Wenger needs to allow Oxlade-Chamberlain the chance to step up. Aaron Ramsey's poor showing against QPR on the left-side of midfield showed how desperate Wenger is for quality out wide.

Oxlade-Chamberlain can provide the width and spark Arsenal need to sustain their push for third.

Wenger has been cautious with the 18-year-old this season, but with a handful of games remaining and teams fighting through injuries and fatigue, now is the perfect the unleash the former Southampton player on opponents. 

Any Centre-Back Needs to Step Up for Arsenal

Arsenal desperately need a centre-back to step up during the close to the season. Most of Arsenal's downfalls this season have come because of a weakness at the back.

After seeing poor defending once again undo his team at Loftus Road on Saturday, Wenger must be hoping one of the defenders in his squad can put in a consistent string of performances.

It does not matter who at this point, but someone needs to step up. Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny are both having roller coaster seasons with the former turning in one of his worst performances of the season against QPR. 

Johan Djourou has not progressed enough to force his way into the first team and Sebastien Squillaci and Miquel are the only other choices available to Wenger.

There needs to be a defender in Arsenal's squad who can lead the team during the reminder of the season or the Emirates may not have Champions league football next season. 

Time for Rosicky to Prove His Worth

The oft-injured and underwhelming Arsenal career of Tomas Rosicky has taken an interesting turn over the past few weeks.

Arsene Wenger has finally played him in his preferred central role and he has put in some quality performances. If Arsenal are to keep ahold of third, they need the creative Rosicky pulling the strings in midfield.

No one has doubted the quality of the Czech international, but Arsenal supporters have only caught the odd-glimpse of his world class talent. Injuries and Wenger's insistence to play him wide have seen Rosicky's career plummet.

This may be the only chance Rosicky has to resurrect his once promising career.

Failure could see Rosicky shipped out of North London being remembered in the same vein as Alexander Hleb and Arsenal left adrift of a top-four finish.