- Date:2009-01-17
- Kick-off:17:30
- Venue:Kingston Communications Stadium
- Attendance:24924
- Referee:Wiley, A
Live Commentary
90mins
Arsenal were given a scare but certainly deserved the three points as Hull struggled to cope with their attacking prowess and slump to a fifth consecutive defeat.
89mins
Hull are throwing bodies forward to try and get another goal and perhaps set up a tense finale but Arsenal are dealing comfortably with their attacks.
86mins
Arsenal carve Hull apart at the back with Nasri and Van Persie instrumental and Bendtner strokes home a simple tap-in to put the seal on the victory.
83mins
Hull boss Phil Brown decides to make another change and replaces Ryan France with Craig Fagan.
82mins
The Gunners work the ball quickly from right to left and Van Persie's slide rule pass is collected by Samir Nasri, who drills his shot wide of Myhill and into the far corner.
79mins
Some clever passing for Arsenal gives Bendtner a shooting opportunity from a tight angle but his strong shot is parried clear by Myhill.
78mins
Vassiriki Abou Diaby has a dig from distance and his initial effort is blocked and after collecting the rebound, his follow-up is wide of the target.
76mins
Hull are still chasing the victory and have plenty of numbers forward but Manuel Almunia makes a solid claim to thwart a decent effort.
74mins
An Arsenal attack is brought to a crude end by Ian Ashbee which gives Robin van Persie a chance with a free kick. However, his effort, although nicely struck, is wide of the target.
71mins
Gael Clichy slides in recklessly on Mendy and deservedly picks up a yellow card - incidentally his fifth of the season.
69mins
Arsene Wenger decides to make his first change to try and wrestle control back and takes off Emmanuel Eboue for striker Nicklas Bendtner.
67mins
The rain is starting to lash it down at the KC Stadium and that goal has certainly brought the Hull side and the crowd back into life.
65mins
Bernard Mendy is given too much room down the right and his volleyed cross to the near post his headed home by Daniel Cousin to draw Hull level.
64mins
Hull have come back into this game a little bit and are starting to enjoy a lot more of the ball as Arsenal are pushed back into their own half.
61mins
Manucho is back on the field after receiving treatment but his eye has swollen badly and it will be interesting to see if he can finish the game - any other area of the pitch and that would surely have been a free kick
58mins
Manucho has a yard of space in the Arsenal box but after flicking the high-bouncing ball he is taken out by Johan Djourou, only for the referee to wave away the penalty appeals.
56mins
A rare foray into the Arsenal half leads to a free kick in an attacking position for Hull but the delivery is poor and the Gunners easily clear.
53mins
It has been all Arsenal and so it is no surprise to see Hull make a change as Peter Halmosi makes way for new loan signing Goncalves Manucho.
51mins
The Gunners look to have the bit between their teeth and Emmanuel Adebayor shows quick feet to free up some space in the box, but he shoots straight at Boaz Myhill.
49mins
Robin Van Persie looks to have got the better of his marker, who takes a tumble, but the referee blows his whistle before the Dutch ace can pull the trigger.
46mins
There are no changes at the break and Arsenal will be looking to carry on from where they left off in that first half as they get the ball rolling.
Match Preview
Hull City's bright start to the season and victory at the Emirates Stadium in September seem a long time ago as the prospect of a relegation battle for the Tigers in the second half of the campaign now appears all too likely.
Phil Brown's side are still in the top half of the table, but a run of only one win in their last 12 matches and four successive defeats has left City just seven points above the bottom three.
Brown has promised that there will be several new faces at the KC Stadium this month but the prospects for this season's surprise package remain grim and fears are growing that Hull could be making an immediate return to the Championship.
One of those new faces is Kevin Kilbane, who could made his debut on Saturday after joining the Tigers from Wigan Athletic during the week for an undisclosed fee.
Arsenal will certainly be keen for revenge after suffering that shock reverse against the Tigers at the Emirates Stadium as they continue to push for a top-four finish.
The Gunners have ground out 1-0 victories against Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers in their last two home games following a run of three successive draws to remain in contention for a Champions League place.
Despite struggling to find their best form, Arsene Wenger's team are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches since slumping to a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City in November.
Hull could have Andy Dawson available again as the influential defender has returned to training after recovering from an Achilles injury.
However, Anthony Gardner (thigh) and Bryan Hughes (hamstring) once again seem certain to miss out while Kamil Zayatte is suspended after picking up five cautions this term.
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Match Report
Two late goals sealed Arsenal's sixth away win of the season against a battling Hull City side at the KC Stadium.
A first-half header from Emmanuel Adebayor saw the visitors in front at half-time and despite a second-half equaliser from Daniel Cousin, Hull were condemned to their fifth straight league defeat as both Samir Nasri and substitute Nicklas Bendtner found the back of the net in the last ten minutes.
Arsenal nearly found themselves in front early on when a blistering Robin van Persie free-kick from just outside the box saw the ball deflect off Michael Turner's outstretched leg and brush just past keeper Boaz Myhill's right-hand post.
A foul by Ian Ashbee on Emmanuel Eboue then gave van Persie another chance to practice his close-range free-kicks.
This time the Dutchman's calculated left-footed strike saw Hull's Myhill produce a top-class save as he managed to tip the fizzing ball onto the crossbar.
Arsene Wenger's men then took the lead on the half-hour mark as a curling van Persie corner saw Adebayor leap above Turner to head the ball into the bottom corner of the net from eight yards.
Hull were back on level terms on 65 minutes as Bernard Mendy controlled at long ball down the right and sent in a curling cross onto the head of the unmarked Daniel Cousin, who buried the ball past the outstretched Manuel Almunia and into the top corner of the net.
However, the visitors were back in front with ten minutes left as slick passing from Bendtner and van Persie found Nasri in space on the left side of the box.
The France international had time to pick is spot as he sent the ball into the bottom corner of the net with a pinpoint strike.
Arsenal were then 3-1 in front on 86 minutes as calls of offside against van Persie were ignored allowing the dangerman to slip the ball across the box to substitute Bendtner, who calmly slotted his effort past the hapless Myhill from six yards.
It could have been worse for Hull as Bendtner was presented with another chance moments from the end, but the Danish frontman was denied a second by Myhill's right-hand post.
Arsenal Team
Hull City | Arsenal |
Corners
| 4 | 4 |
Fouls
| 11 | 19 |
Goal attempts
| 4 | 14 |
Shots off target
| 1 | 3 |
Offsides
| 5 | 2 |
90mins
Arsenal come close to adding a fourth but Bendtner's powerful near-post header comes back off the post and away to safety.