Kevin Whitcher
Arsenal made easy work of a poor Hull side, whose priorities this season are obviously different, and, going on this performance, look doomed to spend next season in the Championship. Still, after the horrorshow on New Year’s Day, it was a relief to have a game of this nature.
The starting formation reflected the nature of the threat expected from Steve Bruce’s team, with only one holding midfielder as Laurent Koscielny was given a rest and Calum Chambers filled in. It has been pointed out to me that only four of the starting eleven were the same as against Spurs at the same stage last season. David Ospina played in goal, but the really interesting decision there is whether he continues against Stoke next weekend. After the debacle against Southampton, Wojciech Szczesny should become the ‘cup keeper’ for a while until he learns to eradicate the frequent errors in his game. Some expected rotation up front, although Alexis continues to play, doubtless willingly, and was the home side’s star man with his indefatigable energy. Joel Campbell received a rare start and blew his chance to make an impression. One suspects the lack of game time has blunted the edge of his abilities, as he looked a better player in the early season when spotted a little more frequently. The manager doesn’t seem to fancy him, and to think, the club missed out on Juan Mata in the pursuit of the Costa Rican in the summer of 2011.
Theo Walcott finally made a start a day short of a year after the injury that accounted for a year of his playing career – in retrospect one that could have been avoided. He is obviously rusty, as his finishing demonstrated. However, it was Mertesacker who made the initial breakthrough, hardly even needing to jump to win the header that made it 1-0 from a well-taken corner, something we don’t see enough of in this team.
Arsenal had enough chances to bury the game before the interval and they kept coming in the second. Hull did create a couple of dangerous moments and the feeling remained that as long as Arsenal did not score, there was always that danger of a replay. Alexis took care of that deep into the second half and the home fans could all relax. Both Francis Coquelin and Hector Bellerin had good games, and the former, especially, may get a chance to prove he is worth persevering with if he can improve in terms of his consistency. Granted, he is a squad player at best, but could do a job on far lesser wages than bigger names seem capable of. His tenacity and aggression is encouraging. At the other end of the age scale, Tomas Rosicky also performed well, providing a bit of drive that at times has been lacking from the play this season.
5.30 on a Sunday felt a very strange kick off time, and it was nippy to boot. Little wonder several thousand season ticket holders opted to stay in the warm and watch it on television. Football has become strange in this respect. In the old days, season tickets did not account for such a large proportion of the crowd, so people that paid for their place generally turned up. Now it seems like an option once you have purchased your place for the season. It’s a lifestyle change, but football itself is a very different phenomenon these days.
I sit in towards the back of the East Upper and there were four lads nearby who wanted to sing and shout. They started a few chants, or echoed those that came from the lower tier. A handful of voices joined them, but most attendees were not interested. The acoustics up there are not wonderful, but even so, the morgue-like quality is striking. Whether it is the distance from the pitch, apathy, or the lack of expression that at times seems to influence English culture, it is strange to experience. I join in with the chanting, although I would admit that recent seasons have dulled my passion for the team. I don’t identify with these players as much, don’t get the feeling of a real hunger to win that I sensed with past Gunners sides. Whether this is a reflection of a reality or that I am just getting older, I will find out when the club has a different manager and I am excited about Arsenal again.
Still, the tie was a walk in the park. The holders march on and Hull can concentrate on staying in the top flight. It is astonishing to think the same opposition denied Wenger’s team two points at the same venue in the league not so long ago. But it’s a topsy turvy season. A good performance or two, then a no show. The inconsistency is troubling. The lack of a settled side due to injuries obviously a mitigating factor, but one that has been going on for far too long for ill fortune to be blamed.
The visit of Stoke next weekend will be more of a challenge. They will not be as intimidating as at the Britannia, and Arsene Wenger will feel able to stand in his technical area without fear of the opposition fans taking the Michael. But Mark Hughes’ team will fancy their chances, so it should be a good match.
Finally, tomorrow evening, we are recording the January edition of the Gooner Podcast at the home of our new sponsors Piebury Corner.
Our panelists will be David Oudot, Mustafa Goldstein and Offside photo agency snapper Mark Leech. If you have any topics or questions you wish the panel to debate, and get a namecheck in the process, please either…
Email them to [email protected]
Tweet them to @GoonerPodcast
or just leave them in the comments below this article.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
The new issue of The Gooner with free 2015 Art of Arsenal calendar can be bought online here. There will be a new issue on sale for the game v Stoke next weekend.
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Further Reading
A sequel to Arsènal – The Making of a Modern Superclub and entitled Arsène and Arsenal The Quest to Rediscover Past Glories has been written by myself and co-author Alex Fynn. It takes up the story of the club from the last update of the previous book, and can be bought online here. Use the promo code ‘Gooner’ to get 10% off the publisher’s price of £8.99.
