Hull City suffered more heartbreak at the hands of Arsenal as Danny Welbeck's stoppage-time equaliser earned the Gunners a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.
Despite falling behind to Alexis Sanchez' early opener, the Tigers came agonisingly close to a shock victory when goals from Mohamed Diame and Abel Hernandez sent Steve Bruce's men racing into the lead.
But five months after letting a lead slip against Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley, the Tigers could not hold out when Welbeck's calm finish inside a crowded box completed the scoring at the death.
Bruce wore a pained expression as the man he tried to sign this summer snatched victory from his grasp, but there was no shame in a brilliant point. A standing ovation from the travelling fans underlined as much as City climbed to ninth in the Premier League.![]()
Hatem Ben Arfa started for Hull City.
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Two weeks after signing off for the international break with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Bruce made one change to his starting XI. But having initially intended to replace Hernandez with Hatem Ben Arfa, an injury to Nikica Jelavic during the warm-up meant it was the Croatian who made way. Arsenal had problems of their own heading into the game, with 10 first-team players absent, but those deficiencies were not apparent during a lively start from the home side. After Jack Wilshere had headed wide early on, his long ball set up Welbeck to test Steve Harper. A solid save was followed by a brave block at the feet of Sanchez.![harper]()
Steve Harper saves at full stretch.
An even better save came in the 10th minute as Santi Cazorla sent a curling shot towards the top corner, and the veteran goalkeeper tipped over at full length. But Harper's resolve was broken 13 minutes in. The dangerous Sanchez tormented Curtis Davies when driving into the City box and unleashed a clinical low drive across Harper and into the bottom corner.![]()
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring the opening goal.
Arsenal's blistering start pointed towards a long afternoon for the Tigers but within four minutes the game was level. Diame's burst out of nowhere exposed Arsenal's fragile defence and although a tug on Mathieu Flamini went unpunished, the midfielder showed wonderful composure to beat Wojciech Szczesny. The Senegal man had only returned from international duty 24 hours earlier but the decision to keep faith with him was quickly vindicated. Diame's equaliser helped to calm the visitors. Although Arsenal continued to have the lion's share of the ball, brave defending, typified by the excellent Michael Dawson, kept City hanging on. A blow to their ambitions came three minutes before the break. The excellent Harper suffered an innocuous shoulder injury and was replaced by Eldin Jakupovic, whose Premier League experience stood at just one game. The Tigers were still able to turn around with hope that a storm had been weathered, and 32 seconds after the break they suddenly had an unlikely lead to protect. A sweeping move sent the ball out wide to Tom Huddlestone and his cross from the right was nodded by the alert Hernandez ahead of Per Mertesacker.![hernandez]()
Abel Hernandez celebrates his goal.
And so began a bid to go one better than Wembley and hold out at 2-1 up. Unwavering discipline and tireless squeezing afforded Arsenal scant few opportunities and the home fans began to grow increasingly restless. As the clock ticked down, City sank deeper and deeper. With Hernandez making way for countryman Ramirez, they could not even call upon a recognised forward. The pressure from Arsenal was relentless but stoic defending ensured Jakupovic barely had a save to make. His moment finally came four minutes from time. Nacho Monreal's cross from deep picked out Sanchez but the fingertip stop was equal to the header. City held victory in their hands as the fourth official signalled six minutes of added time but Arsenal refused to go away. The trickery of Sanchez scattered the Tigers' defence and a pass to Welbeck was coolly converted by the striker Bruce had tried to sign in August. Cazorla worked Jakupovic low down as the Gunners sniffed out all three points but another low save, keeping out Kieran Gibbs, ensured City escaped with something to show for their gallantry.
Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Kieran Gibbs, Mathieu Flamini (Aaron Ramsey 63), Jack Wilshere (Joel Campbell 68), Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck.Subs: Emiliano Martinez, Semi Ajayi, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin.Hull City: Steve Harper (Eldin Jakupovic 42), James Chester, Michael Dawson (Alex Bruce 84), Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamady, Andy Robertson, Tom Huddlestone, Mohamed Diame, Jake Livermore, Hatem Ben Arfa, Abel Hernandez (Gaston Ramirez 63).Subs not used: Liam Rosenior, Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn.Attendance: 60,002 (2,900 away fans).
Hatem Ben Arfa started for Hull City.
Two weeks after signing off for the international break with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Bruce made one change to his starting XI. But having initially intended to replace Hernandez with Hatem Ben Arfa, an injury to Nikica Jelavic during the warm-up meant it was the Croatian who made way. Arsenal had problems of their own heading into the game, with 10 first-team players absent, but those deficiencies were not apparent during a lively start from the home side. After Jack Wilshere had headed wide early on, his long ball set up Welbeck to test Steve Harper. A solid save was followed by a brave block at the feet of Sanchez.
Steve Harper saves at full stretch.An even better save came in the 10th minute as Santi Cazorla sent a curling shot towards the top corner, and the veteran goalkeeper tipped over at full length. But Harper's resolve was broken 13 minutes in. The dangerous Sanchez tormented Curtis Davies when driving into the City box and unleashed a clinical low drive across Harper and into the bottom corner.
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring the opening goal.Arsenal's blistering start pointed towards a long afternoon for the Tigers but within four minutes the game was level. Diame's burst out of nowhere exposed Arsenal's fragile defence and although a tug on Mathieu Flamini went unpunished, the midfielder showed wonderful composure to beat Wojciech Szczesny. The Senegal man had only returned from international duty 24 hours earlier but the decision to keep faith with him was quickly vindicated. Diame's equaliser helped to calm the visitors. Although Arsenal continued to have the lion's share of the ball, brave defending, typified by the excellent Michael Dawson, kept City hanging on. A blow to their ambitions came three minutes before the break. The excellent Harper suffered an innocuous shoulder injury and was replaced by Eldin Jakupovic, whose Premier League experience stood at just one game. The Tigers were still able to turn around with hope that a storm had been weathered, and 32 seconds after the break they suddenly had an unlikely lead to protect. A sweeping move sent the ball out wide to Tom Huddlestone and his cross from the right was nodded by the alert Hernandez ahead of Per Mertesacker.
Abel Hernandez celebrates his goal.And so began a bid to go one better than Wembley and hold out at 2-1 up. Unwavering discipline and tireless squeezing afforded Arsenal scant few opportunities and the home fans began to grow increasingly restless. As the clock ticked down, City sank deeper and deeper. With Hernandez making way for countryman Ramirez, they could not even call upon a recognised forward. The pressure from Arsenal was relentless but stoic defending ensured Jakupovic barely had a save to make. His moment finally came four minutes from time. Nacho Monreal's cross from deep picked out Sanchez but the fingertip stop was equal to the header. City held victory in their hands as the fourth official signalled six minutes of added time but Arsenal refused to go away. The trickery of Sanchez scattered the Tigers' defence and a pass to Welbeck was coolly converted by the striker Bruce had tried to sign in August. Cazorla worked Jakupovic low down as the Gunners sniffed out all three points but another low save, keeping out Kieran Gibbs, ensured City escaped with something to show for their gallantry.
Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Kieran Gibbs, Mathieu Flamini (Aaron Ramsey 63), Jack Wilshere (Joel Campbell 68), Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck.Subs: Emiliano Martinez, Semi Ajayi, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin.Hull City: Steve Harper (Eldin Jakupovic 42), James Chester, Michael Dawson (Alex Bruce 84), Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamady, Andy Robertson, Tom Huddlestone, Mohamed Diame, Jake Livermore, Hatem Ben Arfa, Abel Hernandez (Gaston Ramirez 63).Subs not used: Liam Rosenior, Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn.Attendance: 60,002 (2,900 away fans).
