We didn't play well at all, Wenger said it best "we played with the handbrake on" and Hull played well but in the end we had more of, and the better, chances. I like what Silva has done in such a small space of time. They will need to defend better (less open) than they did, an on-form Arsenal would've scored 4 or 5. Huddlestone as the sitting midfielder doesn't work because he does absolutely nothing defensively. I feel they need a modern sweeper to play that role, a Luiz Gustavo figure, with Huddlestone replacing N'Diaye. Alexis' first goal was right to stand, it doesn't matter if it goes in off the hand, the fact there was no intention to handle it means it cannot be given as a free kick to the opposition. As far as I know, the rule isn't any different in the area than out of it even though referees sometimes play that way. The problem is the rule. Unintentional hand balls should be indirect free kicks imo but with the current rule, it was the correct decision.
@dSquib- It was actually 50-50 in terms of genuine possession (time with the ball) but this Hull team are certainly better at short passes, interchanges etc than Phelan's. Arsenal also did play mediocre for large portions of the game which helped. That's not to take away from Hull though. If they keep up this form, they will not be relegated.
@dSquib Marco Silva has brought a technical side to this team.Instead of just playing long they actually try to create. More daring managers like this should come to premiere league and try to bring more technicality.
After losing their focus, with the title pressure somewhat easing as Chelsea stretch their lead, and an eye on the Champions League places and hoping to repeat their triumph against Bayern, a nervous Arsenal fight to regain some form. A gritty and determined Sanchez with his insistent work rate deserves his brace and top of the scoring charts place. This was a welcome reversion to the team selection and structure that started the season so well. Chelsea have benefited from a consistent first 11. Can't see what sort of calamity would derail their season. It's not being out of Europe that have helped them - so many wins in the CL quiet time. Hazard hearding for Ballon D'or when Messi and Ronaldo hang up their boots; plus its defence defence defence that wins seasons, Arsenal now top scorers but still leaky in defence. Kostafi looked promising but a beast of a CDM is needed.
@Khanya This defence will definitely not win Champions League. Chelsea will fail miserably on both fronts next year. Premiere League is not equipped to win the Champions League..
@Khanya No way is Hazard good enough for Ballon'dor. Neymar has scored far more goals at both international and club level. Alexis is a more deserved winner than Hazard - Alexis has won 2 copa america's for Chile while Hazard has underachieved for Belgium and barely scores any goals but penalties.
@Overmars Points taken, but you can't deny he's talented though. As a fully committed die hard Gunner till I die, I don't mind saying that while Sanchez is brilliant, and, no question Neymar is up there, that Hazard boy has something.
@Khanya- He's talented but there are better players of his age. In any case, the world player of the year is nothing more than a popularity contest so it's who is the most popular at the time which determines who wins. Sometimes it matches with the genuine best player (Ronaldo, Zidane, Messi, C.Ronaldo all or sometimes) but other times the best player misses out (Henry, Raul, Xavi and Iniesta). Brazilians are very popular worldwide so I would be shocked if Neymar doesn't win it a couple of times irrespective of whether he deserves it for said season.
Lot of rubbish being spouted below. Hull had their moments, but Arsenal created a lot more, just struggled to put away their chances. Oxlade-Chamberlain has been playing very well since he moved to the middle. Ranocchia looks like an astute signing too.
@What4 The Ox needs to live up to his nickname - he needs to drop the mental shackles and develop a Sanchezesque mentality, he's talented and strong, wily and on his day a presence, but he has to realise there is one choice in life - get busy living or get busy dying. Claim your place Alex!
@mIKe9441 so quick to forget the foul against arsenal in the Chelsea game......no one said then that ref is helping them.....instead people blasted Arsenal for being timid and crybaby. Stop with these double standards.
@mIKe9441 Man United got 6 offside goals in 6 games in a row, and Rojo did two, TWO 2 footed tackles in 2 games and didn't get sent of once. Come off it.
@mIKe9441 Oh yeah, let's conveniently forget all the help Man U having been getting to help them to 6th place :'D
Your comment is a load of bollocks, every team gets decisions in their favour and against them, you have to look at all the decisions all the teams get, and then draw your conclusions. Numpty.
@What4 exactly, like the foul on Sanchex where he got yellow carded for simulation, when it should have been a red card for hull (second yellow) and a free kick in a dangerous spot
@What4 How about a post match video review of your refs, with published sanctions or steps for improvements when ref's commit howlers (or under the table cash transfer incentivised blindness)
@abhi8 He has been showing nothing for a long time and still disappears in important games regulary. He doesn't Dribbel anymore nor is he creative when there is no space. On top of that comes his terrible body language. Sorry, but he has to go for shure. Just look at his stats this season...
@neumi17 his stats may be not as good as that in previous season but he is playing a very deep role now....you do not dribble there and as it is he is not in the team for dribbling....he is there for creativity and threat and to make something happen.....which he does. He will come good given the expectations are kept real.
@abhi8 That is what I was saying, he isn't that creative anymore. Being creative means that one can make something happen if there is a tide defense and everything seems to be closed. Well, he is not opening anything than, only when there is room already he is usefull but he is not the guy who comes up with creating scoring opportunities when the opposite team is playing defensively...
@neumi17 When the team is playing defensively its not just one player who unlocks the defence, the whole team needs to make movement to create openings unless you are Messi and can dribble past everyone. So if Ozil wants to create something then the other players need to make runs. Sanchez who was playing as central striker likes to take the ball with him rather than a lofted pass or throughball.It was Giroud and very few times Welbeck who gain access to the Ozil assit in the previous season. Now the system has changed but still he needs players around him to make the runs and he plays to his strength. So a creative player like him needs to be played on his strength and not his weakness which Wenger seems to be doing this season. Yes he scored goals initially but as soon as Theo was injured and Sanchez moved left it all made the team static.
"Surely they cannot record three positive results in a row against three of the biggest teams in the league?" - Wow, what a strange thinking is that, I'm impressed. For me, it's a BTTS game.
OK, a more sensible prediction this time. Hull have had some good results recently but apart from the goaless draw at Old Trafford, those have been at home. Away from home in the PL, Hull have scored just six goals and have won only one game (Swansea in August). Arsenal are not looking very convincing right now but we've been here before and they rarely drop points three games in a row. 2-0 to Arsenal.
Here's an interesting match on the red corner we have the gunners chasing the league title and on the yellow corner we have a determined tiger that will do anything to escape the chains ( relegation zone ) I see this one starting out as a draw wenger with a last subsitute and brings in Giroud and giroud delievers as always to make the score at odds 2 - 1
In the last matches Hull City took a confidence, also they showed quite good team spirit. So if Arsenal underestimate Hull or will play kinda "over-agression", then The Tigers really can beat them. Probably it will be a draw, but I choice 1 - 2 Hull.
The last time Marco Silva brought a team to the Emirates, we lost 2-3 in the UCL back in 2015. Here's the whoscored link: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1017503/MatchReport/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2015-2016-Arsenal-Olympiacos
Important to win the midfield battle - a big game for the Ox and Coquelin, (maybe El Neny or A M-N, may get a go). I hope to see Lucas or Welbz given a start.
@Overmars- Take what ex-players say about a manager they had success under with a pinch of salt. It colours their whole view and renders them unable to look objectively at anything to do with said person. There is zero chance Bergkamp would've stayed with a team who failed to contest (let alone win) a title for coming up to 13 seasons not to mention constantly being out-thought and out-fought in 99% of the big matches.
@SteveHyland When Denis Bergkamp came to Arsenal and we hadn't won the league for 4 or 5 years. Were a dour counter-attacking team famous for 1-0 wins and a solid defence. We were hardly Real Madrid winning or challenging for the title every season. We finished 12th the season before Bergkamp joined us so I disagree.We finished 7th in Bergkamp's first season, and we weren't playing regular European Cup football either. Arsenal of the mid 90s was a very different beast and a different sized club to the one we see today. I'm not saying we weren't a big club then, we just became a much larger club under Wenger. He is our most successful manager ever of all time, albeit also the longest serving one. I'm also not saying he should go on forever, clearly we are doing some serious succession planning and making inquiries to the likes of Max Allegri, Tuchel and others.
@Overmars- I don't mean Arsenal prior to Dennis' arrival, I mean him. While at Arsenal, the longest time between title wins was 3 seasons. Although that in itself may sound a lot, when you consider we finished in the top 2 for 8 seasons in a row from 97/98 to 04/05, therefore contesting the title until at least quite late on in the season, it would've given him optimism that Arsenal could win the league the following season. From the 2005/06 season onwards, can you honestly say that has been the case? When have we ever threatened to be league champions even as late as march during that time period? I am the first to mention Wenger's revolution of not just Arsenal but English league football, but he has lost his touch and in realty did a number of years ago. We are at the point where he is spending big money on players yet we are still not progressing. That signals the end imo.
@SteveHyland I'm fairly convinced Sanchez and Ozil are leaving end of season - Imagine, leaving Champions League winners and Domestic League winners, then neither trophy for a few years. It would kill me! However, I am surprised at Ozil's allegiance to Wenger (he'll stay if Wenger stays). It implies Wenger builds strong relationships and earns respect. (Ozil and Sanchez both do deserve better success.)
No Hernandez, no party for Hull
We didn't play well at all, Wenger said it best "we played with the handbrake on" and Hull played well but in the end we had more of, and the better, chances. I like what Silva has done in such a small space of time. They will need to defend better (less open) than they did, an on-form Arsenal would've scored 4 or 5. Huddlestone as the sitting midfielder doesn't work because he does absolutely nothing defensively. I feel they need a modern sweeper to play that role, a Luiz Gustavo figure, with Huddlestone replacing N'Diaye. Alexis' first goal was right to stand, it doesn't matter if it goes in off the hand, the fact there was no intention to handle it means it cannot be given as a free kick to the opposition. As far as I know, the rule isn't any different in the area than out of it even though referees sometimes play that way. The problem is the rule. Unintentional hand balls should be indirect free kicks imo but with the current rule, it was the correct decision.
Hull had slightly more of the ball? Do my eyes deceive me?
@dSquib- It was actually 50-50 in terms of genuine possession (time with the ball) but this Hull team are certainly better at short passes, interchanges etc than Phelan's. Arsenal also did play mediocre for large portions of the game which helped. That's not to take away from Hull though. If they keep up this form, they will not be relegated.
@dSquib Marco Silva has brought a technical side to this team.Instead of just playing long they actually try to create. More daring managers like this should come to premiere league and try to bring more technicality.
@sure_ticket is a fraud, the same denis, do not send him cash, do give hime space to con you.
correction @sure_ticket DO NOT give hime space to con you
After losing their focus, with the title pressure somewhat easing as Chelsea stretch their lead, and an eye on the Champions League places and hoping to repeat their triumph against Bayern, a nervous Arsenal fight to regain some form. A gritty and determined Sanchez with his insistent work rate deserves his brace and top of the scoring charts place. This was a welcome reversion to the team selection and structure that started the season so well. Chelsea have benefited from a consistent first 11. Can't see what sort of calamity would derail their season. It's not being out of Europe that have helped them - so many wins in the CL quiet time. Hazard hearding for Ballon D'or when Messi and Ronaldo hang up their boots; plus its defence defence defence that wins seasons, Arsenal now top scorers but still leaky in defence. Kostafi looked promising but a beast of a CDM is needed.
@Khanya This defence will definitely not win Champions League. Chelsea will fail miserably on both fronts next year. Premiere League is not equipped to win the Champions League..
@Khanya No way is Hazard good enough for Ballon'dor. Neymar has scored far more goals at both international and club level. Alexis is a more deserved winner than Hazard - Alexis has won 2 copa america's for Chile while Hazard has underachieved for Belgium and barely scores any goals but penalties.
@Overmars Points taken, but you can't deny he's talented though. As a fully committed die hard Gunner till I die, I don't mind saying that while Sanchez is brilliant, and, no question Neymar is up there, that Hazard boy has something.
@Khanya- He's talented but there are better players of his age. In any case, the world player of the year is nothing more than a popularity contest so it's who is the most popular at the time which determines who wins. Sometimes it matches with the genuine best player (Ronaldo, Zidane, Messi, C.Ronaldo all or sometimes) but other times the best player misses out (Henry, Raul, Xavi and Iniesta). Brazilians are very popular worldwide so I would be shocked if Neymar doesn't win it a couple of times irrespective of whether he deserves it for said season.
Lot of rubbish being spouted below. Hull had their moments, but Arsenal created a lot more, just struggled to put away their chances. Oxlade-Chamberlain has been playing very well since he moved to the middle. Ranocchia looks like an astute signing too.
@What4 The Ox needs to live up to his nickname - he needs to drop the mental shackles and develop a Sanchezesque mentality, he's talented and strong, wily and on his day a presence, but he has to realise there is one choice in life - get busy living or get busy dying. Claim your place Alex!
One of the matches, when the score doesn't show what exactly happened on the pitch.
@DuncanIdaho only in the sense that it should have been 4-0 to the Arsenal
@DuncanIdaho And what exactly did happen?
referees have helped Arsenal against Hull, Burnley twice and Southampton. They'd not even be in the top 6 if it wasn't for the refs
@mIKe9441 so quick to forget the foul against arsenal in the Chelsea game......no one said then that ref is helping them.....instead people blasted Arsenal for being timid and crybaby. Stop with these double standards.
@mIKe9441 Man United got 6 offside goals in 6 games in a row, and Rojo did two, TWO 2 footed tackles in 2 games and didn't get sent of once. Come off it.
@Overmars , united was denied penalty in several occasions too . Here , the referee himself apologised to allow Sanchez a clear handball
@mIKe9441 Oh yeah, let's conveniently forget all the help Man U having been getting to help them to 6th place :'D Your comment is a load of bollocks, every team gets decisions in their favour and against them, you have to look at all the decisions all the teams get, and then draw your conclusions. Numpty.
@What4 exactly, like the foul on Sanchex where he got yellow carded for simulation, when it should have been a red card for hull (second yellow) and a free kick in a dangerous spot
@Khanya Exactly. I must add, well done to Walcott for letting the officials know when they're rubbish ;-)
@What4 How about a post match video review of your refs, with published sanctions or steps for improvements when ref's commit howlers (or under the table cash transfer incentivised blindness)
Özil with the lowest rating of all players again! Time to look for annother playmaker...
@neumi17 really......no 10 of real madrid.....just because he is having a bad time does not mean he is incapable........
@abhi8 He has been showing nothing for a long time and still disappears in important games regulary. He doesn't Dribbel anymore nor is he creative when there is no space. On top of that comes his terrible body language. Sorry, but he has to go for shure. Just look at his stats this season...
@neumi17 his stats may be not as good as that in previous season but he is playing a very deep role now....you do not dribble there and as it is he is not in the team for dribbling....he is there for creativity and threat and to make something happen.....which he does. He will come good given the expectations are kept real.
@abhi8 That is what I was saying, he isn't that creative anymore. Being creative means that one can make something happen if there is a tide defense and everything seems to be closed. Well, he is not opening anything than, only when there is room already he is usefull but he is not the guy who comes up with creating scoring opportunities when the opposite team is playing defensively...
@neumi17 When the team is playing defensively its not just one player who unlocks the defence, the whole team needs to make movement to create openings unless you are Messi and can dribble past everyone. So if Ozil wants to create something then the other players need to make runs. Sanchez who was playing as central striker likes to take the ball with him rather than a lofted pass or throughball.It was Giroud and very few times Welbeck who gain access to the Ozil assit in the previous season. Now the system has changed but still he needs players around him to make the runs and he plays to his strength. So a creative player like him needs to be played on his strength and not his weakness which Wenger seems to be doing this season. Yes he scored goals initially but as soon as Theo was injured and Sanchez moved left it all made the team static.
If Sanchez is not going to win the Golden Boot for sure he should be awarded the Golden Hand of the Year.
@enxit Well, it wasnt him who scored against feel-the-Burnley. it was totally unintentional
How is Ox performing in that central role?
@6seconds- Better than Ramsey, that is for sure.
@6seconds He made a fantastic run in the 2nd half which should have ended in a goal.
@6seconds look at the match with strong opponents (like Chelsea) and you'll see.
@6seconds very soild, good passing and runs
How the hell is Sanchez's goal allowed to stand??
@Tony1000 The goalkeeper cleared it into his hand. He didn't Maradonna it.
@Tony1000 well it's not their first handball goal of the season
Maybe a draw (1-1) Hull are so good right now.
After coming out of disappointing games, Arsenal always wins with big goal margins. I expect up to 3 goal win to Arsenal
arsenal win 2-0
ARSENAL WINS 2:0
"Surely they cannot record three positive results in a row against three of the biggest teams in the league?" - Wow, what a strange thinking is that, I'm impressed. For me, it's a BTTS game.
2-0. Even though Marco Silva is clearly a good manager, I don't think they'll have quite enough this time.
Arsenal 0-1 Hul
0:1 and all hell break lose at Emirates!
3-0
OK, a more sensible prediction this time. Hull have had some good results recently but apart from the goaless draw at Old Trafford, those have been at home. Away from home in the PL, Hull have scored just six goals and have won only one game (Swansea in August). Arsenal are not looking very convincing right now but we've been here before and they rarely drop points three games in a row. 2-0 to Arsenal.
@MEHJones Good predicition and reasoning.
Here's an interesting match on the red corner we have the gunners chasing the league title and on the yellow corner we have a determined tiger that will do anything to escape the chains ( relegation zone ) I see this one starting out as a draw wenger with a last subsitute and brings in Giroud and giroud delievers as always to make the score at odds 2 - 1
@shakes Gunners not chasing league title. That's over.
This will be a match with 2-3goals its a nice tip. Possible scores 2:0/1:1/2:1 .
In the last matches Hull City took a confidence, also they showed quite good team spirit. So if Arsenal underestimate Hull or will play kinda "over-agression", then The Tigers really can beat them. Probably it will be a draw, but I choice 1 - 2 Hull.
@DuncanIdaho Not at Ashburton Grove, I'm afraid, that's a little too delusional.
Let's not under-estimate Hull please, Silva seems to be doing a good job there.
@What4 13+ SEASONS WITHOUT CHALLENGING FOR TITLE.
@WazzaFC Billions spent, still worse than The Arsenal ;-)
Arsenal just have to win this one and Hull are getting better by game under Marco Silva maybe 3-2 to Arsenal
I think Obviuosly win Arsenal 2 - Hull 1
@Rafiq174 wow great Arsenal is winner thousands salute of you all guys
Arsenal 2 - 1 Hull
The last time Marco Silva brought a team to the Emirates, we lost 2-3 in the UCL back in 2015. Here's the whoscored link: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1017503/MatchReport/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2015-2016-Arsenal-Olympiacos Important to win the midfield battle - a big game for the Ox and Coquelin, (maybe El Neny or A M-N, may get a go). I hope to see Lucas or Welbz given a start.
Arsenal 1-1 Hull
"I really like Arsenal. But you, do you really like Arsenal? Or just Arsenal with trophies?" - Denis Bergkamp
@Overmars- Take what ex-players say about a manager they had success under with a pinch of salt. It colours their whole view and renders them unable to look objectively at anything to do with said person. There is zero chance Bergkamp would've stayed with a team who failed to contest (let alone win) a title for coming up to 13 seasons not to mention constantly being out-thought and out-fought in 99% of the big matches.
@SteveHyland When Denis Bergkamp came to Arsenal and we hadn't won the league for 4 or 5 years. Were a dour counter-attacking team famous for 1-0 wins and a solid defence. We were hardly Real Madrid winning or challenging for the title every season. We finished 12th the season before Bergkamp joined us so I disagree.We finished 7th in Bergkamp's first season, and we weren't playing regular European Cup football either. Arsenal of the mid 90s was a very different beast and a different sized club to the one we see today. I'm not saying we weren't a big club then, we just became a much larger club under Wenger. He is our most successful manager ever of all time, albeit also the longest serving one. I'm also not saying he should go on forever, clearly we are doing some serious succession planning and making inquiries to the likes of Max Allegri, Tuchel and others.
@Overmars- I don't mean Arsenal prior to Dennis' arrival, I mean him. While at Arsenal, the longest time between title wins was 3 seasons. Although that in itself may sound a lot, when you consider we finished in the top 2 for 8 seasons in a row from 97/98 to 04/05, therefore contesting the title until at least quite late on in the season, it would've given him optimism that Arsenal could win the league the following season. From the 2005/06 season onwards, can you honestly say that has been the case? When have we ever threatened to be league champions even as late as march during that time period? I am the first to mention Wenger's revolution of not just Arsenal but English league football, but he has lost his touch and in realty did a number of years ago. We are at the point where he is spending big money on players yet we are still not progressing. That signals the end imo.
@SteveHyland I'm fairly convinced Sanchez and Ozil are leaving end of season - Imagine, leaving Champions League winners and Domestic League winners, then neither trophy for a few years. It would kill me! However, I am surprised at Ozil's allegiance to Wenger (he'll stay if Wenger stays). It implies Wenger builds strong relationships and earns respect. (Ozil and Sanchez both do deserve better success.)
Arsenal 2-0 Burnley
@SamuelOkellogum We're playing Hull.
@SamuelOkellogum Wow. You have changed your mind already? Thought you said earlier that it's a draw.
@Valor He's also predicting a complete fixture change. Very bold.
This is a draw 1-1
It wouldn't surprise me if Arsenal win this 6-0 and help keep Wenger in a job for a bit longer.
2-1