You could see the concentration going through Nasri’s head as he steadied himself and aimed for the far corner. That goal on his stronger side would have been impressive but on his weaker side, glorious

Match Review – Hull City 1 Arsenal 3 – Premier League

What an amazing chance for Arsenal to gain some points on the teams above us, what a great day for football so far. That was what I was thinking at about 4.20pm.

Villa were losing to Sunderland, Manchester United were being held by the anti-football mob and hilariously Chelsea were being beaten at home against Stoke City. This could well be big Phil’s last game in charge, I thought. Then it went horribly wrong.

Lucky Villa or Plucky Villa depending how you look at it, turned the game around even including a two footed tackle from Ashley Young which earned him a red card and they won the game. Manchester United score yet another last minute goal that earns them 3 more points and a place on top of the league. I didn’t even get the chance to laugh at Chelsea’s misfortune. 2-1 over there. Thanks to an injury time Frank Lampard strike.

I then started to feel a little uneasy about the Hull City match that I felt so confident about earlier. All the other teams winning and then Arsenal slip up has been a feature of my Arsenal supporting life so far.

I turned onto what I thought was Setanta Sports and I ended up watching 20 minutes of Setanta sports news before realising that I was infact a muppet. I flicked over to the proper channel and caught the end of Arsene Wenger being interviewed.

I found out on the net that the side was unchanged. Wenger may have wanted to start a fully fit Alex Song but it was his first game back.

The match kicked off with Hull City straight on the front foot, they won a corner within seconds of the kick off. It would be bloody typical if we conceded from a corner within seconds but luckily it was dealt with sufficiently.

Arsenal slowly started to dominate the possession and gain control of the game as you would expect, it took until the 13th minute for Arsenal to fashion the first chance, well half chance of the game.

Adebayor won a free kick just out wide the penalty area. Van Persie struck a low shot that took a wicked deflection off Turner’s book which sailed high over the goalkeepers head and just wide of the post.

A minute later Eboue powered forward driving through the Hull City midfield but his pass was all wrong. Emmanuel Eboue is a frustrating player. Many do not give him the credit for his actually ability, its what he doesn’t have that stands out. His final pass, cross, shot is clearly lacking and often wipes out any good work he does before it.

Chances were few and far between with Arsenal having most of the ball but it breaking down when in and around the Hull City penalty area. You can fully understand the need for another creative passer, someone who can take opposition players out of their spaces. We may see this for the next league game should everything behind the scenes sort itself out.

On 28 minutes Arsenal had another free kick on the right side of the penalty area just outside the box, a perfect position for Van Persie who is yet to score from a free kick this season. Van Persie strode back in that upwards stance that he does. He ran in and powered a ferocious curler Myhill, the Hull City goalkeeper, fingertipped onto the crossbar.

Arsenal started to turn up the heat and two minutes later the dominance was rewarded. Van Persie swung an in swinging corner from the right towards Adebayor who leapt exceptional well to loop a header across the goalkeeper into the far corner. A truly fabulous header. Alan Smith would have been the last Arsenal striker who could have scored that goal. It just proves that Adebayor should concentrate on playing in the penalty area more often than he does. Especially when we have players like Nasri, Eboue and Diaby who can carry the ball.

6 Minutes later Arsenal created another good chance after some wonderful football. Adebayor ended up driving into the Hull penalty box and crossed for Eboue who was on the right side of the goal unmarked. A calm head would have made it two, but Eboue sliced his effort terribly wide. Eboue has to learn not to panic in those situations and would make him a much better player.

It ended 1-0 to the Arsenal at half time, the game should have been wrapped up with a second goal and that would be important with so much of the game to go.

The Mendy vs Clichy battle was interesting, two direct pacy players trying to get the better out of each other. Abou Diaby looks much more tactically disciplined. He was winning tackles, playing it simple, driving through Hull when it was needed. There is so much to unlock in Diaby but finding his key is probably the trickiest of them all.

Adebayor should have scored the second after the break, he managed to get away from Ricketts but his shot was straight at Myhill. Manchester United’s Manucho came on and the negative in me imagined all the headlines the next day LAST GASP MANUCHO WINS TIGERS POINT

Manucho made his first contribution a few minutes into coming on by receiving a swollen eye. Djourou and Manucho went in for a 50/50 ball which Manucho got to first, Djourou’s head crashed into Manucho’s eye. No penalty. My first reaction was it was a 50/50 how can you give a penalty but maybe that was my bias coming out. It was mistimed from Djourou and we were lucky to get away with it in the end.

On 65 minutes the dreaded curse of not finishing our chances then let gift the opposition a goal struck. Mendy was running towards Clichy on the right and instead of Clichy closing him down he gave him time and space to whip in his cross which took a deflection straight to the forehead of Daniel Cousin who powered in past Almunia 1-1 against the run of play.

Arsene brought off Eboue for the more offensive Bendtner on his favoured 70 minute mark. Bendtner played on the right as he has been doing lately.

Bendtner’s Bolton goal seems to have installed some much needed belief as he seemed to make an impact straight away, he drove at Hull and played many 1-2’s that came off.Bendtner had a drive saved a few minutes after coming on.

The decisive goal came on 82 minutes, Robin Van Persie was given the ball with his back to goal just outside the penalty area, he spun and flicked it to the onrushing Nasri who took a touch towards his left foot and drilled a left foot shot into the far corner. A marvelous demonstration of technique. You could see the concentration going through Nasri’s head as he steadied himself and aimed for the far corner. That goal on his stronger side would have been impressive but on his weaker side, glorious.

The usual bombardment in air came after the Arsenal goal but what struck me was this little Arsenal side had all of sudden grown. Djourou, Bendtner, Song (who replaced Adebayor) and Diaby stood preparing for a Hull City corner that was cleared.

5 minutes later the game was well and truly wrapped up with Van Persie remarkably claiming a hattrick of assists with a cross to Bendtner to strike past Myhill.

There was even time for Bendtner to crash a headed against the base of the post from a Clichy whipped cross.

What an introduction from the Dane, we know that he has the talent, he just needs confidence like we all do in life. Along with hard work and we could witness a very good player.

The final whistle blew and the 3 points was vital. Another late showing from Bendtner and Nasri’s goal was decisive.

I was disappointed that we didn’t score the second at 1-0 up but there were many positives like Van Persie’s extremely committed and high work rate. His team play has really come on this season. Abou Diaby was another positive, box to box, tackling and discipline. All he needs is consistency.

The top gun goes to Van Persie for his effort alone but when you add three assists then it just shows what a wonderful player he has developed into.