Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal 3 Hull City 0: Gunners show their ugly side and reclaim third place
Amidst the now traditional blood and fury of an encounter between these sides, Arsenal's title challenge quietly gathered pace last night. [LNB]As might have been expected, following last season's bitter exchanges between Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and Hull assistant manager Brian Horton and the antipathy between Arsene Wenger and Phil Brown, this fixture witnessed more accusations of cheating, thrown punches and touchline histrionics.[LNB] Yet, leaving aside the confrontations and the enmity, Arsenal secured an important three points on a day when Manchester United faltered. Five points behind Chelsea, the Gunners remain in the title race even if few will expect them to finish it ahead. [LNB]Much Abou: Diaby scores Arsenal's third goal[LNB]Nevertheless, when Abou Diaby, superb throughout, added an excellent third goal on 80 minutes, Arsenal's dominance was complete. [LNB]Diaby, who with Alex Song is the antidote to those who suggest Arsenal lack the muscle to compete with the strongest, powered through midfield, exchanged passes with Andrey Arshavin and, continuing his run, received the ball and struck it past Boaz Myhill. [LNB]There was still time for substitute Theo Walcott to attempt a delightful chip on 88 minutes, which bounced just an inch the wrong side of the post.[LNB] It mattered little. Arsenal have constructed a decent platform from which to climb the table and for now, the apparently decisive defeat to Chelsea earlier in the month, seems to have diminished in importance. [LNB]For long periods of the first half the game meandered along without a sign of the turbulence these two clubs can generate. Yet, as half-time approached, the storm broke. [LNB]A relatively innocuous foul on Arshavin prompted the furore. As Samir Nasri seized the ball for the free-kick, he appeared to step on Richard Garcia, who collapsed to the ground theatrically. [LNB] Flashpoint: Hull City and Arsenal players clash[LNB]Nick Barmby took his cue, throwing a punch at the Frenchman, with Stephen Hunt pushing him in the chest for good measure, prompting a 21-man brawl, with requisite pushing, shoving and snarling. Only William Gallas remained aloof.[LNB] At the end of it all, Nasri and Hunt received yellow cards and Barmby was lucky not to receive something worse. [LNB]With the feud reignited, Arsenal seemed to rouse themselves. A further free-kick in the same position two minutes into first-half added time was sized up by Denilson. The Brazilian curled the ball over the wall and saw it drop into the far corner, beyond Myhill. It was a quite sublime finish. [LNB]There was more bad blood to come, however. Riled by Nasri, Barmby and Hunt pursued him as the players left the pitch at half-time. The melee continued as the players bundled into the tunnel and out of sight.[LNB] Arsenal began the second half in the style to which we have become accustomed; regrettably for them, that included wasteful finishing. [LNB] Samba style: Denilsons' effort goes over the wall and past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill[LNB]Arshavin launched a dazzling run down the left and supplied a superb pass to the advancing Eduardo. The striker controlled the ball and turned his man sublimely in one motion, yet confronted with just Myhill to beat from ten yards, he shot lamely wide. [LNB]They might have been punished when Mikael Silvestre pulled Craig Fagan's shirt inside the penalty area, with referee Steve Bennett waving away protests to point to the spot on 55 minutes. [LNB]Geovanni stepped up to the mark, but aimed a soft penalty at an easily saveable height, allowing Manuel Almunia to parry the ball away. The ball popped up invitingly to be headed home, but in their eagerness to do so, Hunt and Geovanni collided and between them steered it wide. [LNB]Hull had missed their moment to unnerve an Arsenal side which still maintains a hint of fragility about it. Just how costly that would prove was demonstrated five minutes later, when Arsenal extended their lead.[LNB] Delightful combination play from Song and Diaby unlocked Hull's crowded defence and Song eventually crossed from a tight angle for Eduardo to steer the ball home from two yards out. Then came Diaby's big moment. He did not disappoint. [LNB]Wenger said: 'For me the most important thing was the win. We were a bit lucky because Almunia saved us with the penalty but after that I still felt we deserved to win. [LNB]'We are in the fight, This team want success. They deserve success. Let's be humble and consistent.'[LNB] Spurs plan to gazump rivals Arsenal and snap up Chamakh for freeHow Arsenal mould the latest batch from Arsene Wenger's talent factoryArsenal 3 Hull City 0: The action as it happenedARSENAL FC
