Hull v Arsenal Report
By Tiger Tim
January 18 2009
OK so lets skip all the pre match facts and stats. The facts are Hull lost their 5th straight league game in a row, this time losing 3-1 to Arsenal. I assure you the result was 3-1 despite other reports you may have read on the site. Hull did start the game brightest but after 20 minutes it was mainly all Arsenal.
Hull did start brightly and had the first effort of the game, Nathan Doyle testing Almunia from 20 yards. Arsenal's 1st chance came in the form of a free-kick which Van Persie struck, it took a deflection and nearly ended up in Myhill's top corner. Hull had their own free-kick in a dangerous area on 20 minutes but Geovanni hit it straight into the Arsenal wall. Arsenal began to look threatening and Van Persie hit a free-kick which Myhill just got finger tips to as it hit the post. Just moments later Arsenal did take the lead and it was no surprise when Adebayor rose highest to powerfully head the ball past Myhill.
Despite having the lead Arsenal showed no signs of sitting on it as they continued to stretch the Hull Defence, Adebayor finding Eboue unmarked in the Hull area, he got his shot all wrong and sent it wide. It was all Arsenal in the final 10 minutes of the 1st half however despite all their possession and pressure on the Hull defence they never created anything. Half time Hull 0-1 Arsenal. Despite a bright start by Hull Arsenal deserved their half time lead.
Arsenal started the second half as their ended the first giving the Hull defence no rest bite, Adebayor having a shot which was pushed away by Myhill. Arsenal were playing some good stuff and trying to pass their way through the Hull defence which is custom to how they play. Hull made a substitution on 50 minutes changing formation to 4-4-2 to try get back into the game. Hull had a claim for a penalty When Djourou smashed into Manucho, the referee waved play on. Hull's defence keep out the persistent Arsenal attacks as the game entered the last 25 minutes.
Against the run of the play Hull found an equaliser, Mendy took on Cilchy down the right and the ball looped into the box for Daniel Cousin to head past the flat footed Almunia. 1-1 game back on. After the goal Hull enjoyed a 5 minute spell of pressure and many began to cast an eye back to the Emirates where Arsenal took the lead and lost 2-1. Arsenal with stood the spell of pressure and began to look dangerous once again, Van Persie sending another free-kick wide.
As the game enter the last 15 minutes it was Arsenal who looked more likely to find a winner, Substitute Bendtner forcing Myhill into a save which he could only parry into the danger zone lucky for Hull they got it clear. Arsenal Regained the lead on 81 minutes though, Van Persie laid the ball off to Nasri who fired the ball past Myhill. Arsenal got a third on 86 minutes when Van Persie who was offside laid the ball into Bendtner's path and he smashed the ball into the net from 5 yards. Game over with only 5 minutes left.
Hull did try to get back into the game but it was in vain as they created little despite some pressure on the Arsenal defence the game ended 3-1 to Arsenal. The result means Hull remain in 8th despite 5 straight defeats. Arsenal remain 5th 3 points behind Aston Villa.
Manager views
Phil Brown :
"I've got Brian Horton in my staff who has coached many games. He says it's not a penalty, it's assault."
"The last time I spoke to the Football Association's referee's chief Keith Hackett he said Wiley would not be refereeing Hull City for a long time," added Brown.
"He refereed us at Anfield and dropped a clanger that day that cost us two points.
"Two days ago I was told Rob Stiles would be refereeing and three hours before the game I was told Alan Wiley was refereeing.Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
"Bernard Mendy was a handful with his pace and determination, but overall it was a good contest between him and Gael Clichy.
"I believe this team goes from strength to strength. Mentally they were up for it, we were focused, united, and ready for the battle. And we gave it a go until the end."
Teams and stats
Hull: Myhill, Doyle, Turner, Ricketts, Kilbane, Mendy, France (Fagan 83), Ashbee, Halmosi (Manucho 53), Geovanni (Garcia 87), Cousin.
Subs Not Used: Duke, Dawson, Folan, Giannakopoulos.
Booked: Ashbee.
Goals: Cousin 65.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Eboue (Bendtner 69), Diaby, Denilson, Nasri, Adebayor (Song Billong 87), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Vela, Ramsey, Gibbs, Merida.
Booked: Clichy.
Goals: Adebayor 30, Nasri 82, Bendtner 86.
Att: 24,924
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
| Hull City | Arsenal | |
| Goals | 1 | 3 |
| 1st half Goals | 0 | 1 |
| Shots on Target | 2 | 7 |
| Shots off Target | 4 | 4 |
| Blocked Shots | 1 | 3 |
| Corners | 4 | 4 |
| Fouls | 11 | 19 |
| Offside | 5 | 2 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Possession | 38% | 62% |
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:18:13:29:14 by flying claret.
risn' up to the challenge of our rival