On 7 October, Arsenal hosted Hull City in their Premier League Matchday 10 fixture.
Mikel Arteta named the same starting XI that had featured at Anfield. Given the difference in quality between the two sides, a more comfortable victory was expected. But things did not quite work out that way…
Despite their overwhelming dominance, the Gunners struggled to create clear-cut chances against the Tigers. The reason was the extreme caution Arteta has instilled in his team. Instead of playing quick one-twos around the opposition penalty area, Arsenal players take two, three or even more touches. As a result, the attacks lack any real tempo, giving the opposition time to regroup and block off all dangerous avenues.
In this particular match, even that cautious approach did not completely protect our defence in the first half. The visitors managed to threaten on several occasions.
Hull ran out of steam after the break, and our dominance became total. The Gunners did not create any more dangerous chances, but they waited for an opposition mistake. The visitors’ goalkeeper parried Madueke’s shot straight into his path, and the captain slammed the ball into the net with his right foot.
Having loosened up a little, Arsenal created two excellent chances for Noni, but on both occasions he took too long to figure out what to do in a shooting position and made the wrong decision.
It looks as though Mikel has found George Graham’s playbook, One-Nil to the Arsenal. Good thing it is still enough for now.
Club football is now heading into a two-week break. On 21 November, we take on Guimarães’ former team. Today, though, we will be keeping an eye on City’s away match in Nottingham.
Arsenal (4-3-3):
Raya – Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori – Rice, Ødegaard, Guimarães – Madueke, Havertz, Tzolis.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapié, Lewis-Skelly, White, Merino, Zubimendi, Eze, Gyökeres.
Goal: Ødegaard, 72.
Referee: Farai Hallam.
VAR: Michael Oliver.
Tags: Match report
Author: chees
