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Better late than never

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:52 am
by Gunner Down Under
Both in the scoreline and in this report.

A traditional upstairs downstairs league match. Arsenal flying high after their 5-0 demolition of Porto midweek with Bendtner scoring three, Hull less than so following a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Everton. A loss to Arsenal put them disadvantaged in their title push, a loss for Hull entrenches them in the dreaded relegation zone that they missed out ever so close last season.

Arsenal were without captain Fabregas, and Hull without inspirational Hunt who has done so much for the team. Arsenal with passing football and Hull with their aggressiveness, who is typical of lower placed teams in this league but have known to blow apart teams on a rare attempt.

Arshavin was a sprinter off the blocks, scoring after some neat passing leading to the first goal just under 15 minutes in. The movement was so like Arsenal, pressing forward with the reward coming with a goal. And this time early, unlike the goals coming at the very end so many times this year.

Arsenal before and after the goal were playing with confidence, slipping the ball through Diaby, Nasri, Eboue with machine like accuracy. Each time the ball was even near the box a goal smelt close, with one of our great goal getters the most likely candidates to bring this game to an end barely before it started.
But once again, Arsenal's defense was breached this time a very soft penalty converted by Bullard, transferred to Hull last year. Campbell felled Vennegoor of Hesslink in the box leading to a drawn score at the end of the 28th minute. Vennegoor of Hesslink looked offside even from the replay which made it worse.

Now, a new Arsenal played on the pitch. Confidence sapped, Hull quickly pressed forward looking for a quick second. Arsenal didn't look anywhere near the team that played just minutes before, slow movement in and around the box and many close missed chances lead to both teams wondering what lied ahead for them the halftime whistle blew, and some agony as Hull quickly were brought down to earth with the second yellow given to Boateng.

Hull looked defensive with the taking off of Boateng in the second half, playing with only one striker- Hesselink- up front with a compact midfield that Arsenal had difficult breaching. Zayatte was taken off for treatment as Campbell clattered into him just outside the box, with Bullard firing his free kick wide and high.

Arsenal were looking quite desperate now, but with Theo coming on for Eboue that mentality seemed to change with him setting up Arshavin but he made a hash of the shot. Hull are now conceding corner after corner, but each one that Arshavin brings in is cleared, without reward to the Arsenal attackers. Bendtner, Theo and Eduardo made half chances, all going over and frustrating the Arsenal faithful, but pleasing Hull with the chance that they may take a draw from Arsenal with ten men, and Zayatte taken off injured.

As the ninety minutes ticked on, 6 minutes of added time were added. Arsenal hoofed each ball they got into the box, hoping for the doors to be opened.

And then inevitably, it did. Sagna squared it to Denilson, after another attacking phrase by the boys from North London, who took a speculative shot straight at Myhill, who could only look on despairingly, getting a slice of his glove to the ball, not stopping Bendtner's sidefooted shot into the goal.

Arsenal held on again, with another late goal coming, this time through Bendtner, reliable as ever. Hull plunging further into the red zone, Arsenal up and into title contention once more, with one moment, two players and substandard defending telling the story at the KC Stadium tonight.

Re: Better late than never

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:11 am
by gzagee
Nice one GDU.

Re: Better late than never

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:09 pm
by Gooner Girl
well done