With another international break behind us, Arsenal have a run of fixtures where, realistically, they ought to be chalking up a large number of points, starting with Hull City on Saturday.
The same opponents of course caused one of the biggest shocks the Emirates Stadium has witnessed when they came away with the 3 points in September 2008 and Steve Bruce has added enough attacking talent to cause trouble for a makeshift Arsenal back line.
Arsene Wenger will be grateful for a home game following an international break. It’s fairly typical for the team to take some time to re-tie old bonds. Arsenal’s back four will have to quickly establish bonds though.
In truth, Monreal probably makes more sense alongside Mertesacker than Koscielny due to his penchant for nipping in front of attackers and intercepting. But without Koscielny, Debuchy and Giroud, Arsenal fans may have cause to be nervous about set-pieces.
Arsenal have lost Özil, but you feel Santi Cazorla has perhaps been unlucky to have been omitted from the starting line up 5 times already this season. Together with Jack Wilshere, the Spaniard has a chance to prove something to his manager.
Vital Quotes:
Arsene Wenger has told his players to expect another ‘big sweat’ against Hull City, following the 120 minute marathon against the same side at Wembley in May.
‘The Hull game for us is a remembrance of a big sweat because we played against them in the cup final in a very difficult game,’ Wenger said.
‘They could not use (Nikica) Jelavic in the cup last season, and since then they have bought Diame, Hernandez – they have bought some good players.
‘When you look at their team sheet now, they look like they can beat anybody so I expect a tough game.
‘Look at the quality of players they got in, you can say they bought top quality.’
Tigers boss Steve Bruce wants his side to repeat the endeavour they showed in May as he takes his team to North London.
”The last time we played against them it was the cup final…it was the greatest day for a lot of people,’ he said.
‘The final was a marvellous occasion for everybody. We played to our maximum and it was extra-time before we lost.
‘Everyone had a wonderful day but we lost and it could have been so much more.
‘We were close to pulling off one of the big shocks in an FA Cup final but it didn’t quite happen.
‘To go 2-0 up in a cup final was quite remarkable but we just ran out of a little steam. We gave a hell of an account of ourselves and if we can repeat that on Saturday that will be great.
‘If we do and we’re not quite good enough again, fine.’
Arsenal Team News:
Arsenal lose Mesut Özil to a knee injury and Laurent Koscielny with tendinitis in his achilles from the international break. Danny Welbeck is fine after rolling an ankle on international duty.
Calum Chambers serves a one match suspension. Mathieu Debuchy (ankle), Olivier Giroud (ankle), David Ospina (thigh), Yaya Sanogo (hamstring) are out. Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry will play for the U-21s on Friday evening.
Mikel Arteta (calf) returns to the squad, Aaron Ramsey rejoins full training on Monday after a hamstring problem. Tomas Rosicky is expected to be in the squad after a small calf problem.
Arsenal (from); Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Rosicky, Arteta (c), Podolski, Wilshere, Chamberlain, Alexis, Monreal, S.Cazorla, Flamini, Sanogo, Welbeck, Diaby, Martinez, Bellerin.
Player to watch: Hector Bellerin
Likely to make his Premier League debut at right back with Chambers suspended. It was something of a baptism of fire in Dortmund, but you’ll suspect the young Spaniard will be better for it.
That said, given his inexperience, Per Mertesacker may have to coach him through the game. One of Sagna’s more underrated qualities was covering the German’s lack of pace and Bellerin may not be as well schooled in that situation. Hull may look to exploit Arsenal’s left flank.
Hull City Team News:
Steve Bruce has pledged to take a close check on Mo Diame and Abel Hernandez following long trips for international duty. Sone Aluko played for Nigeria on Wednesday evening.
Allan McGregor and Robert Snodgrass are long term absentees.
Hull City (from): Harper, Rosenior, Figueroa, Bruce, Chester, Davies (c), Meyler, Huddlestone, Hernandez, Brady, Maguire, Livermore, McShane, Jakupovic, Diame, Jelavic, Dawson, Ince, Aluko, Ramirez, Elmohamady, Ben Arfa.
Player to watch: Mo Diame
Diame has enjoyed something of a lease of life at Hull. Often pigeonholed as a destroyer, Bruce has given Diame the freedom to roam and to attack and it has paid dividends.
Diame will probably play a disciplined role at the Emirates, but when Hull break, expect him to break too.
Match Facts & Stats
This is Arsenal’s joint-second worst Premier League start to a season under Arsène Wenger, with 10 points from seven games, the same as the 1998-99 campaign.
The two sides have played one another 14 times, with Arsenal winning 11.
Arsenal have won five Premier League games in a row against Hull City since losing at home in their first ever top-flight meeting in September 2008.
The Gunners have earned seven straight victories over Hull in all competitions, scoring 18 goals and conceding only five.
Wenger’s side have not lost back to back Premier League matches since January 2013.
Hull are attempting to win successive league games for the first time in 13 months.
Mohamed Diame has scored three goals in four league games for Hull – as many as he netted in his last 25 games for West Ham.
Ref Watch:
Roger East will officiate this one.
Match Prediction:
I think Arsenal will win but coming hot on the heels of an international break, I’m not convinced it will be pretty.
2-1 Arsenal. Alexis and Welbeck for the Gunners, Ben Arfa for Hull.
Next Fixtures:
Arsenal play Anderlecht in Brussels at 7.45pm on Wednesday. Hull are away at Liverpool next Saturday at 3pm.