Daily Archives: December 5, 2013

Arsenal 2 Hull City 0: The Tigers Tamed at the Emirates

Emirates Stadium (Premier League)

Arsenal – Bendtner (2′), Ozil (47′)

Player Ratings – Match Highlights – Wenger’s Press Conference

With the games coming thick and fast, there was no time for the Gunners to revel in their victory over Cardiff as Hull Tigers arrived at the Emirates following their shock win over Liverpool. Arsene Wenger decided to rest five players from the Cardiff game, bringing in the likes of Nacho Monreal, Carl Jenkinson, Mathieu Flamini, Tomas Rosicky and the much-maligned Nicklas Bendtner.

As you expect from the home side, the Gunners began the game at a frantic pace and got the lead when Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey exchanged passes before the Welshman threaded a neat ball to Carl Jenkinson. The fullback swung a brilliant cross that was headed home by Bendtner. His first Arsenal league goal in three years.

Flamini had a shot that was deflected into Bendtner’s path but the Great Dane was offside. Cazorla drifted in a corner that was flicked into the danger area by Per Mertesacker. Laurent Koscielny reacted the quickest to nod the ball but the goalie failed to smother the ball before his defense cleared it to safety.

Ozil received the ball off a short corner and waltzed into the box before blasting the ball that was parried by Allan McGregor but the ball fell kindly to Bendtner who failed to capitalize on the ball. Hull’s first signs of danger appeared when Danny Graham swung in a ball that evaded everyone in the box.

Tom Huddlestone made a foray forward and drilled an inviting ball across the six-yard box but there was no Hull player to capitalize on the ball. Arsenal launched a counter attack through Cazorla that moved with the ball before teeing up Bendtner. The Dane dinked a neat ball to Ozil but the German’s headed effort went wide.

At the start of the second half, Monreal did well to save the ball from going out for a throw-in before feeding Ozil. The German schemer passed the ball and drifted forward but Ramsey showed his class by sending Ozil through with a blind pass. The rest they say was history…

Ozil almost changed from scorer to provider when he drifted inwards and sent a through ball for Ramsey but the Welshman’s shot was saved by McGregor. Cazorla swung in a corner that was headed to the far post by Bendtner but the shot was blocked on the line.

Wenger brought in reinforcements in the forms of Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere for Bendtner and Rosicky. Shortly afterwards, Mikel Arteta replaced Ramsey.

Towards the end of the game, Wilshere made a trademark lung-bursting run before passing the ball to Ozil. The German maestro attacked the ball and was ready to pull the trigger before his chance was blocked.

With Chelsea winning against Sunderland, they still remain four points behind the Gunners, who have an in-form Everton side this weekend. Nicklas Bendtner might have enjoyed today’s game more than anybody in the Arsenal ranks, as he would have been delighted to get on the score sheet to get his enemies off his back.

Arsene Wenger said that he still believes in his abilities and I must say that Bendtner had a good game by his standards. It was also good seeing Giroud get a breather as he had played so much football this season.

The Hull tigers roared loud against Liverpool but they were tamed at the Emirates. They aren’t the first to be tamed, and they certainly won’t be the last.

Sayonara.

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Posted in Arsenal, Football, Match Report, Premier League

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Tags: Arsenal, Football, Hull, Premier League

Arsenal 2 Hull City 0: Post-Match Thoughts and Player Ratings

Dec 5

Posted by enigma106

Arsenal hosted Hull City on a cold night in North London and will be elated to have taken three deserved points despite the fact that Arsene Wenger chose to rest a considerable chunk of his squad following the win over Cardiff.

Both regular fullbacks, Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs, were replaced, Mathieu Flamini stepped in for Mikel Arteta in midfield, Tomas Rosicky came in Jack Wilshere’s stead while in attack, Nicklas Bendtner replaced the Handsome French Bloke.

Starting XI against Hull

Listed below are Gooner Daily’s ratings for the players that tamed the Tigers;

Wojciech Szczesny: The Pole had a rather uneventful evening with the Gunners spending a considerable chunk of time in the opposition half but made some routine saves as the game progressed. 7/10

Carl Jenkinson: The young bloke hasn’t started a league game since the North London Derby in September and was very disappointing in the Capital One Cup Fourth Round tie against Chelsea. With Sagna suffering an injury prior to the game, Wenger gave the lad another chance and he grabbed it with both hands. His cross to Bendtner was a peach. 8/10

Nacho Monreal: When you can afford to give a good player like Kieran Gibbs a breather, you’d have no problems bringing on a Nacho Monreal in his stead. The Spanish fullback anticipated the ball a lot of times in the course of the game and he’d be happy that he has given his manager something to think about. 7/10

Per Mertesacker: The captain of the night was his usual efficient self, doing what he does best in the heart of Arsenal’s defense. 7/10

Laurent Koscielny: His partnership with the BFG has really blossomed as both players have fought hard to keep Arsenal’s six clean sheet in seven games. Koscielny had a couple of half chances on the other end of the pitch but he worked tirelessly to ensure that the Hull forward line had bad days in the office. 7/10

Mathieu Flamini: The Frenchman worked hard in midfield and always made himself available for a pass. He was as tenacious as ever, making those crunch tackles you’d expect to see from him. 7/10

Aaron Ramsey: This lad has grown in confidence and like Midas, everything he touches turns into ~~gold~~ goals. Ramsey had a couple of snuffs at goal, but he sealed the points for his team with a breathtaking assist for Mesut Ozil that finished aplomb. This tweet from @Nawti_Keed hit the nail in the head. 8/10

Normally Ozil Ozils Ramsey and Ramsey Ramseys but this time Ramsey Oziled Ozil and Ozil Ramseyed

— Mykel (@NAWTI_keed) December 4, 2013

Santi Cazorla: This was a much-improved performance from the diminutive Spaniard, and his influence on the game was felt. However, he left his shooting boots at home. 7/10

Mesut Ozil: The German playmaker pulled the strings in midfield as you’d expect, and he must be delighted to have scored the goal that clinched the game for his team. 8/10

Tomas Rosicky: Showed off his vast energy levels and pressed high up the pitch for his team. 7/10

Nicklas Bendtner: Following his torrid performance against Chelsea, many harbored thoughts that he had played his last game for the club before departing in January. However, the World’s Best striker started ahead of Giroud and got on the score sheet after just two minutes. He went on to have a great game before he was replaced by Walcott. 8/10

Theo Walcott: The English speedster replaced Bendtner but he failed to have any impact on the game whatsoever in his “favored” striking position. 6/10

Jack Wilshere: Didn’t do half badly after replacing Rosicky. He also made those trademark lung-bursting runs and almost fashioned a chance for Ozil. 7/10

Mikel Arteta: Didn’t play long enough to get a rating.

Do you agree or disagree with Gooner Daily’s post match thoughts and match ratings?

Feel free to share them with your comments below.