Arsenal beat Hull 2-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, Feb. 11. Here are all the highlights from the Premier League match.
The result may not have come as any great surprise, but the shape of the match certainly did.
Hull, a week removed from a 2-0 win against Liverpool in which they held the ball only 28 percent of the time, were supposed to follow the same blueprint against Arsenal. They did, for about five minutes, after which this match turned into an unexpectedly open contest.
There were times in the first half, in which the Tigers held the majority of possession, when the match was fully end-to-end.
Lazar Markovic and Kamil Grosicki posed a threat for Hull out wide, while Oumar Niasse provided a solid target up front. The Tigers’ best chance of the half came from a Grosicki cross that Niasse headed just within Petr Cech’s reach.
Arsenal were content to play on the break, perhaps mindful of how Liverpool had struggled to break down a packed Tigers defense the week before, and created a series of good chances they were unable to convert.
Alexis Sanchez dragged an open shot wide from 12 yards, before Mesut Ozil volleyed over from the same spot.
The breakthrough eventually came for Arsenal in the 34th minute. Ozil cut the ball back for Kieran Gibbs, whose shot was blocked only for the rebound to ricochet off Sanchez and into the net. Replays showed the ball hit Sanchez’s hand, but Mark Clattenberg, in consultation with his linesman, appeared to deem it ball to hand.
The second half followed much the same pattern as the first, with a little less of the excitement. Markovic crossed to Niasse early on, but the forward saw a powerful shot saved well by Cech.
Despite a lot of huffing and puffing from the visitors, and a few dangerous runs from Markovic down the right, Arsenal were rarely exposed.
There was even time, with Hull committing more and more bodies in attack, for Arsenal to double their lead. Sanchez, streaking clear following a Tigers corner, rounded an overzealous Eldin Jakupovic, before crossing to Lucas Perez at the back post.
The Spanish forward’s header was on the way in when Sam Clucas stuck out an arm to block the shot. Red card Clucas. Penalty Arsenal. 2-0 Sanchez.
Arsene Wenger, serving the last match of his four-game touchline ban, has seen better performances from his side, but after consecutive losses, to Watford and Chelsea, the win must have felt like a relief.
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Highlights
Arsenal move up to third with the win, a point ahead of Manchester City, who play Bournemouth on Monday. Hull say 18th, but could move back to the bottom of the table if Sunderland and Crystal Palace win.