Kevin Whitcher
It was an expected three points, but Arsenal took until injury time in the second half to make them safe. A so-so performance against a well organised Hull side who enjoyed plenty of the ball and created a number of very decent chances. However, the home team enjoyed greater luck yesterday, and the game did not feel like it was won until Sanchez’s injury time penalty.
On a chilly, grey day with consistent snow falling, but not settling, large numbers of season ticket holders decided to give this one a miss after the twin reverses against Watford and Chelsea. Arsene Wenger had requested the Arsenal fans behave more like Tottenham’s in the pre-match press conference. Does that mean settle for mediocrity and the empty illusion of a title challenge while paying hefty admission prices without complaining about it? Many regulars at the Emirates are doing exactly that already.
Theo Walcott started. Why? He was rubbish against Chelsea, and Perez was on the bench. The Theo situation is like the Sunday league kids’ team where the dad picking the team always picks his son to play even though there are four better subs. At least he was removed after the usual 70 minutes, whereas the Sunday league kid would play the whole game. There was also a very good argument for starting Danny Welbeck in place of Iwobi who has hit a poor patch. Arsene sat out the final match of his four game ban in the directors’ box and occasionally Steve Bould got off his backside to shout some instructions.
The opening goal came from some ping ponging around the area and the ball being fired at Alexis’ hand. A case of pressure telling really. Mark Clattenburg apparently entered the Hull dressing room to apologise at half-time stating he should not have given it. It was evident something wasn’t right by our only seeing one replay of the goal on the giant screen from an inconclusive angle, while the referee and linesman were consulting over whether it should stand. If they’d seen the more incriminating footage of the goal it sounds like they might not have given it. Some judicious selection with the use of the video by those running the in-house broadcast there.
The Gunners rode their luck further with some suicidal passes across their own backline, but got away with it. Perhaps Hull suffered a bit from not having striker Abel Hernandez available. In the second half they were the better team, and Gibbs was fortunate not to be red carded when penalised for shoving over Markovic when he was the last man. Mark Clattenburg did Arsenal a favour there, although there was no doubt about the penalty that doubled their lead.
Hull’s manager Marco Silva beat Arsenal at home last season when he was with Olympiacos, and he has undoubtedly improved them, given them hope of getting out of the relegation zone. As for Arsenal, they climbed to third, but could be back in fourth by the end of today if Manchester City win. Currently, second to sixth are separated by two points. The Gunners still have to play the other four sides below Chelsea in the top six before their League programme is completed. If Arsene Wenger were to announce he had decided to move on in the summer, the stadium might get behind the team more the way he would like them to. As it is people are simply not turning up or if they do are sitting there unmotivated to make a racket. If he wants the dignified exit that most everyone would prefer, he needs to stop the kind of dithering that has cost him so often in the transfer market.
Anyway, a win’s a win and was much needed for the top four hopes in a very tight battle. How significant it will prove, time will tell. Arsenal will have to up their level against Bayern in midweek, and perhaps consider starting Perez and Welbeck because they will need goals. With a midfield of the Ox and Coquelin, I don't foresee the home side failing to score at least a couple.
And for younger reader who wonder about the title of this piece, here’s a brief musical history lesson for you…
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