Arsenal 2 Hull City 0: Arsene Wenger tight-lipped about future as Alexis Sanchez gets Gunners back to winning ways
Arsene Wenger has weathered a few storms during his 21-year reign and the Arsenal manager navigated another testing week in which his future has come under intense scrutiny with a nervy, perhaps fortunate, defeat of Hull, who looked far from a team locked in the bottom three.
Alexis Sanchez struck twice, the first an obvious hand-ball, the second from the penalty spot in added time, to confirm Arsenal's victory against a Hull side who, for long stretches of the second half, appeared poised to deepen Wenger's discomfort.
Hull's sense of grievance was heightened when Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs escaped with a yellow card after his last-man impediment of the impressive Lazar Markovic early in the second half.
Marco Silva, Hull's head coach, revealed that referee Mark Clattenburg had apologised to his players for missing Sanchez's handling offence and said: "I am not happy, we did not deserve the result. Some important decisions were not good for us. But I do not want to talk all the time about referees."
Wenger admitted Arsenal were fortunate to benefit from Clattenburg's blunder. "I am responsible for many things but not the referee's decision. I feel sorry for Hull but we have had to cope with some of these sort of decisions as well," he said. The Arsenal manager was relieved to return to winning ways.
"We started well and created some good chances. We then became more protective and that was what the game was about because we knew it was absolutely vital to win today," he said.
The slump in form that has seen title ambitions replaced by fears that Arsenal may not even make the top four has also put the long-serving Wenger's future at the club under deep.
Some sections of the Arsenal support feel it could be time for a change, while Wenger, whose current contract expires in the summer, seems in no rush to commit to the two-year extension offered by the club.
Petrol was poured on to the flames on Friday when Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who watched Wenger undertake a question and answer session at an Arsenal dining club function, said he expects him to stand down at the end of the season.
Wenger, however, was dismissive. "I could be tired because I get up early in the morning. I did not give any indication about my future," he said.
With a Champions League trip to Bayern Munich to come on Wednesday, it all provided an ominous backdrop to a must-win encounter in front of an anxious Emirates audience.
Average touch positions (0 min)
So slipshod in their previous home match, against Watford, so weak in a humbling at Chelsea a week ago, Arsenal clearly had a point to prove and at least engineered a high-octane opening.
Hull, however, are a different proposition under new head coach Marco Silva, who has supervised two wins, a draw and a defeat since taking charge on Humberside.
A point from a trip to Old Trafford and a victory over Liverpool shows an ability to take on illustrious opponents and there was certainly an organisation and backbone to their resistance. And a threat, too, sporadic in the first half, but growing in momentum after the break.
The steady Arsenal pressure told in the 34th minute when leading scorer Sanchez stepped up with his 18th goal of the season, even if Hull were entitled to feel hard done by.
Sanchez's first effort spun back off goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic only to strike his hand and ricochet back into the net.
Hull, however, were far from downhearted, and preyed with greater conviction on Arsenal's insecurities after the interval. The pacy Markovic again tore down Arsenal's left flank and his cross found Niasse, whose shot was beaten away by Cech.
Arsenal 1 - 0 Hull (Alexis Sánchez, 34 min)
Arsenal's frustrations were evident when Theo Walcott was booked for prolonging a needless dispute with Hull defender Harry Maguire in the 51st minute and there was further anxiety when Gibbs impeded Markovic but escaped with a yellow card as Hull players beseeched referee Mark Clattenburg to invoke the last-man rule.
Hull sensed their chance was coming against an increasingly fragile-looking Arsenal but as clock ticked into added time, Arsenal sprung forward through Sanchez.
His cross was headed goalwards by substitute Lucas Perez, striking the arm of Sam Clucas. That was a red card for the Hull defender, and Sanchez slammed home the penalty to send waves of relief rolling around the Emirates.
Referee admits it was a handball
This is interesting from Andrew Robertson after the match:
The referee apologised to us and said it was a handball. He says he wasn't 100% sure (at the time) and obviously we could argue that he couldn't give it but that's the explanation he gave. It’s good he admits he was wrong because not many referees do that but it doesn’t make it any better for us.
Time on ball (at full time)
Possession: Arsenal vs Hull 2:23PM
Average touch positions (full time)
Average touch positions (full time) 2:22PM
FULL TIME
A tale of two hands (halves). One from Sanchez which probably shouldn't have been given, one by Clucas that finished Hull off. Arsenal keep their erratic, predictable form going. Wenger in! Four more years!
GOAL!
Hull up against it now - Alexis Sánchez makes it 2-0 to Arsenal.
Arsenal 2 - 0 Hull (Alexis Sánchez, 90 + 3 min) 2:19PM
90 mins +2
Sanchez has the ball for the penalty.
Red card! Sam Clucas sent off for Hull
Referee Mark Clattenburg gives Sam Clucas his marching orders.
It's been a mismatch at Emirates Stadium so far
Arsenal are dominating this game, firing in a total of 15 shots compared to nine from Hull so far.
Arsenal vs Hull shots on goal 2:19PM
90 mins +1
Hull corner. Koscielny heads clear. Clucas delivers from wide, the ball is fired into the mass of bodies in the box, Maguire tries to turn, he loses the ball and Arsenal are away! Ozil spots the forward run of Sanches, the keeper comes out... he's gone round him! The goal is open, from 25 yards he looks up and can score... but chips to the back post! Perez is there... he heads at goal... HANDBALL! It's a penalty! And a red card for Clucas!
88 mins
Arsenal have men over at the back post but the delivery isn't good enough and Jakupovic can punch clear. Arsenal being pushed deeper now by Hull.
85 mins
Welbeck is playing down the left wing and will have to do a lot of defending.
Hull win a corner... and Diomande has just missed what is effectively a free header. He rises higher than anyone in the penalty area and heads at goal but puts his effort way over the bar.
82 mins
Niasse hits the side netting! A corner is whipped into the near post and Coquelin gets his body across to put Niasse off.
Welbeck and Perez are coming on for Iwobi and Oxlade-Chamberlain. I'd have thought putting someone like Monreal on to help Gibbs out down the left might have been a better option.
79 mins
Huddlestone off for Diomande.
76 mins
Sanchez is booked for a clear dive. He gets a bit of contact on his shinpad as he darts inside Ranocchia but throws himself to the floor. He actually did one of those earlier as well... but this was in an attempt to win a free-kick in shooting distance.
Ozil is very frustrated at chasing a ball for 30 yards and then being called offside.
Time on ball (60 - 75 min)
Possession: Arsenal vs Hull 2:01PM
73 mins
No goals to report. Hull enjoying more of the ball again and working hard to win it back when they lose it.
70 mins
Walcott off, Elneny on. That'll mean a change in shape for Arsenal. Ranocchia is booked for a nasty challenge on Sanchez, putting a lot of weight on the top of his ankle and foot. Sanchez didn't enjoy that and hobbles away.
68 mins
Wenger brought Gibbs into the team ahead of Monreal because he wanted him to deal with Grosicki down the Hull right. Grosicki played wide left the entire match. Hull might be changing formation here as they look to get back into the game. N'diaye goes for a wonder goal, shooting from 30 yards but puts it way wide and high.
Elmohamady comes on for Elabdellaoui.
If Coquelin stopped trying to play Andrea Pirlo passes over the top of defenders, Arsenal's passing moves wouldn't keep breaking down in the final third. He's good at winning the ball, not creating chances.
65 mins
60 | Substitution for @HullCity#ARSHUL
➡️ Evandro On
⬅️ Grosicki Off pic.twitter.com/dwhTmNHNjx— Hull City (@HullCity) February 11, 2017
Walcott overlaps down the right, bundles his way past a defender and shoots on his left, but it's lame and the keeper can just pick up the rolling ball.
Hull attack, Markovic gets in behind Gibbs but his cross is blocked at the near post.
63 mins
Oxlade-Chamberlain bursts down the left - this is a perfect situation for the counter-attack. Sanchez joins in, looks up and then bends the obvious pass to the back post. It was three on three there, Hull are gifted the ball.
Time on ball (45 - 60 min)
Possession: Arsenal vs Hull 1:47PM
61 mins
Ozil and Iwobi link in the corner of the Hull box and are unlucky not to score. Ozil's clever backheel flick gives Iwobi space to shoot but he bends his far corner effort over the bar.
Out: Arsenal 1 - 0 Hull (Alex Iwobi, 60 min)
60 mins
— Parker (@panoparker) February 11, 2017
Hull are trying to do the sit back and counter-attack routine in this half. Arsenal are in control of possession, Hull looking to win the ball closer to their own goal.
Average touch positions (57 min)
58 mins
This game is really entertaining. Arsenal are doing their best to get more into the game, Hull are getting a bit feisty. Walcott was booked for throwing the ball away during his brief descent into anger a few minutes ago by the way.
Too many Arsenal passes aren't going where they're supposed to - Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to sweep the ball out to the left wing first time and get a passing move speeded up but hits it straight out. They really miss Cazorla in that central position.
55 mins
RED CARD! That must be a red! Gibbs comes across and barges Markovic off the ball when he's clean through on goal. How is that not a red card?! Gibbs is only booked! That is a scandalous decision!
54 mins
OOOCHA BEASTIES! Hull could draw level! But don't.
Attempt Saved: Arsenal 1 - 0 Hull (Oumar Niasse, 51 min)
Theo Walcott has gone all angry - you wouldn't like him when he's angry. He'll write an angry letter that you will not enjoy!
He's annoyed about being fouled, then Maguire picks him up and Huddlestone steps in laughing at Walcott's attempts to square up to someone twice as wide and much taller than him.
51 mins
Arsenal are keen to keep Coquelin on the pitch and he's still going. Sanchez nearly gets onto a pass over the top but it's slightly over hit and Jakupovic comes out to claim the ball.
48 mins
Coquelin is in trouble, he's on the floor after a challenge and has something painful going on in his upper thigh. Wenger puts his headset on and talks to the bench.
KICK-OFF 2
We're back. Jump Around by House of Pain preludes the action. A hit in the UK in 1993. You have read that in the voice of a Saturday night DJ in a provincial town.
The money shot
Poll time
Arsenal's walk-on music
There's something quite apt about Arsenal fans and players getting pumped up by an anthemic chart topper from 1998.
HALF TIME
That was like watching a giant game of five a side. I enjoyed it.
And there's Sanchez's handball for the goal. Nae luck, Hull fans!
Time on ball (first half)
Possession: Arsenal vs Hull 1:17PM
Average touch positions (half time)
Average touch positions (half time) 1:16PM
Hull not troubling the hosts so far
Hull registered just a single attempt on target in the first 45 minutes.
Arsenal vs Hull shots on goal 1:14PM
45 mins
Hull pass around Arsenal's half, Robertson cuts in from the left and drives towards goal, Niasse doesn't quite keep a move alive in the box, Hull win a corner. Again, nothing comes of it.
42 mins
Coquelin gets a talking to for fouling Markovic. Nothing comes of the free-kick.
39 mins
Arsenal are doing to Hull what Hull have been doing to the big teams. It forces Hull to be the team in charge of possession, when they're much better out of it - Hull only have about 33% average possession under Marco Silva so far this season. It's between 33% and 37% anyway - I can't remember the exact figure right this second - but Arsenal are drawing Hull forward, letting them pass it around and then moving forwards quickly. They're winning so I suppose it's sort of working.
GOAL!
1-0! The opening goal goes the way of Arsenal and it's Alexis Sánchez who scores it.
Arsenal 1 - 0 Hull (Alexis Sánchez, 34 min)
And it probably shouldn't count! Sanchez reacts to the ball in the six yard box, pokes it at goal and it comes off the keeper and goes in off his hand, which is above his head. For me, Clive, that's a handball.
33 mins
Arsenal have a bit of a scramble in the box, Clucas has the ball battered off his arm (it's never a penalty) and then Harry Maguire is cooler than a cucumber chillin' in da fridge as he heads a cross back to his goalkeeper from inside the six yard box.
30 mins
Hull have found space in Arsenal's half again! They're focusing play down the left with Grosicki but again Arsenal's defensive block is really deep and is giving Hull most of the half to play in. Coquelin puts in a great challenge to win the ball on the edge of his box, Sanchez breaks away, Gibbs overlaps and the attack is on! Gibbs is tackled.
Time on ball (15 - 30 min)
Possession: Arsenal vs Hull 1:00PM
Neither side taking control of the game yet
Arsenal having more of the ball so far, with 249 touches to 220 from Hull.
27 mins
Ozil has missed a chance to score now.
Miss: Arsenal 0 - 0 Hull (Mesut Özil, 25 min)
All the signs are pointing towards a 1-0 Hull win here. Gunners passing about, never really causing trouble but wasting the chances they do create. Danger lurks in the Emirates this afternoon...
Arsenal are pressing the ball close to their own area rather than high up the pitch. Presumably that is to draw Hull out of their own half and give Arsenal the chance to counter into space, rather than do what Liverpool do and spend 45 minutes knocking on a bolted door.
24 mins
There's Arsene Wenger sat in the stands watching the match. He hasn't joined in a single chant yet.
21 mins
Arsenal's defensive shape is really weird. They're playing Hull and have two banks of defenders around their own box as Hull put the ball wide and try to cross into the area. I guess it's worked though and now Arsenal come forward looking for space in the Hull half. There's not enough movement from Arsenal here though and so eventually Gibbs goes on a run through the middle of players instead.
18 mins
@danielstorey85 The next two teams hovering by the tunnel, checking their watches.
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) February 11, 2017
17 mins
Arsenal keep attacking though and Sanchez has the ball in a tiny bit of space in the box. He fakes to shoot, wins some more space and hits it left footed... wide.
Miss: Arsenal 0 - 0 Hull (Alexis Sánchez, 16 min)
That should have been a goal two. These teams are going to regret missing these chances. The game is a lot more open than I thought it would be.
Time on ball (0 - 15 min)
Possession: Arsenal vs Hull 12:45PM
15 mins
Hull play some nice football, easily split the Arsenal defence apart and NIASSE IS AT THE BACK POST! His header at goal is pushed over by Cech - that's a great save. That was so easy to get space in the Arsenal half.
Arsenal counter, get to the box, and spend about 30 seconds Arsenal-ing around the area. Nothing happens. Then Bellerin pops up, plays a quick one two and is in! He must score from here!
Miss: Arsenal 0 - 0 Hull (Héctor Bellerín, 15 min)
Nope.
Hull respond
The visitors have their first shot of the game, in reply to two so far from Arsenal.
Arsenal vs Hull shots on goal 12:41PM
12 mins
And now Hull are in behind! NIASSE HAS A TAP IN! Oh why didn't he go for it?!!! He's a central striker, the pass has been played right in front of him and he hasn't anticipated it - even though it was literally the only pass Markovic could have made to him. That is baffling. Hull should be 1-0 up.
Pass: Arsenal 0 - 0 Hull (Lazar Markovic, 9 min)
I can only assume he's building up his match fitness and isn't quite sharp enough but in any elite league you have to take those chances. Hull look really good here - Arsenal need the first goal or this could get difficult.
9 mins
Arsenal are on the counter! The pitch has opened up and it's three on two but because this is Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger has spend the last 20 years telling Alex Iwobi's parents to ensure he never, ever shoots from beyond 18 yards, Iwobi decides to pass wide to Ozil when he should really have a hit.
Pass: Arsenal 0 - 0 Hull (Mesut Özil, 7 min)
Hull are playing quite a high line and balls over the top are finding Sanchez in space. Jakupovic gets his hands to another effort from the Chilean, but the shot was too central.
Attempt Saved: Arsenal 0 - 0 Hull (Alexis Sánchez, 8 min)
6 mins
The prize for worst free-kick of the year has been won as a Hull player (I didn't catch who) boots the ball straight out of play. Hull are playing a 4-1-4-1, with Huddlestone in the space between defence and midfield. He'll be able to keep Ozil quiet in there.
3 mins
Grosicki dashes down the left and for a minute it looks like he might be able to cut inside and go through the defence. Koscielny slides in with a strong challenge and wins the ball, Arsenal counter-attack and Alexis Sanchez causes havoc in the box. Ozil takes a corner... but Coquelin hits a dreadful shot on the volley and the ball rolls well wide of goal.
KICK-OFF
Arsenal start the match!
Here come the teams
Right then! Here we go. Arsenal are back to the 4-4-1-1 that's worked so well this season, Alexis Sanchez acting as the striker, cutting in from wide positions.
Hull look to be going with a 4-5-1, which probably means they're going to sit back, try to frustrate the Gunners and then take advantage of that Coquelin/Oxlade-Chamberlain central midfield. If those two players could be combined, they'd be one really great player. As it is, both have clear weaknesses in their game and Hull will know they can gain control of the midfield.
Arsene Wenger says
On Hector Bellerin:
Today after training he had some tests (he can play).
Generic manager answer:
The mood is positive but we have to respond to our results but there's only one place to answer questions - on the pitch.
Do you wanna build a snowman?
If you zoom in on that you can see the snow. SNOW!
Marco Silva
It's the past, a fantastic win for us. It's a new week, a new match and it'll be a tough tough time for us. We work both systems (3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1) and it's always possible because we have clever players, Edu can play (lots of) positions.
We need to do our best. For us it's not important, important to do our work, show good organisation, fantastic spirit, to enjoy what we do during the match.
Greetings
Hello! JJ Bull here to take you through all the action from today's game. Hull are quite good now, Arsenal are in ANOTHER CRISIS BECAUSE THEY LOST ONE GAME OR SOMETHING and so all of Arsenal TV have lost their minds and we've all forgotten that not every Arsenal fan is like those chaps.
Anyhow. It is snowing in North London this morning/afternoon, and I know that because I was just there. Weirdly, it's not very cold, but the heat will be turned on soon anyway - the heat of battle, that is!
I promise I'll be better at this soon.
