Hull 1 Arsenal 3
Not for the first time, and like last week, Nic Bendtner made a big difference.
On for Eboue, who lost the ball ten times and was damaging the Arsenal rhythm and performance, Bendtner’s control and understanding was instant adding the necessary touch of class at the right time – when Arsenal were under the cosh.
Determination and skill replaced haplessness and frustration.
The Dane, on the day after his 21st birthday, hit a good ball to Van Persie in the centre who shifted it out to Nasri who cut inside and fired a low left foot rifler into the far corner for 1-2.
Soon after Bendtner drove at the
If that wasn’t enough he headed against the post in injury time.
In many ways this showed many signs of a typical Arsenal away performance. Under pressure from a fast start from opponents, fast passing and possession gaining the ascendancy; an opening goal; more dominance; missed chances; a losing of the way; opposition equaliser; panic attack; key moment which could have gone either way; and a second phase of dominance in the last 15 minutes.
Geovanni and Cousin had three shots in the first twenty – reminding of the Emirates game.
Nasri tried to cut inside and
Another Van Persie free kick was touched onto the bar by Myhill, with Djourou just missing a tap in.
From a Van Persie corner, Adebayor hung in the air and directed the ball into the opposite corner of the net.
A neat triangular move saw Nasri find Adebayor in the area, who crossed low to Eboue, free on the right. The Ivorian slashed at it first time, when he had more time. An important moment.
Arsenal continued to be precariously dominant but lacked the killer instinct, getting slower in midfield.
Brown sensed the mood was right and Manucho, the Angolan on loan from Man U, replaced the ineffective Halmosi.
A bouncing ball in the area, saw Djourou clatter Manucho. Probably a foul, but the Swiss international got away with it.
Bendtner came on. Van Persie and Nasri won a couple of free kicks and Diaby and Bendtner had shots. The momentum was turning. And the rest is history.
Arsene Wenger said: “We want three points in every game. In the second half our fluency dropped but we found the resources to win. We know we can score. We score more than most in the last 15 minutes.
“We have improved in areas we were weak. We’ve improved tremendously in the air.
“Plenty of teams will drop points. Let’s drop less than the others.”
Phil Brown said he thought set pieces was Arsenal’s Achilles heel and that key decisions, like the Manucho incident and the third goal being offside, went against them at key times.
So Arsenal continue the unbeaten run. Aston Villa continue to have incredible fortune in winning their games and they’ve been playing competitively since July. With possible transfer window signings and with Walcott and Eduardo set to return in February and Fabregas and maybe Rosicky later, things are more positive than the last time Arsenal finished playing
Arsenal: Almunia; Sagna, Djourou, Toure, Clichy (YC); Eboue (Bendtner 69), Diaby, Nasri, Denilson; Van Persie; Adebayor (Song 87) Subs not used Fabianksi, Vela, Ramsey, Gibbs, Merida
Referee: Alan Wiley