Brad Rial picks out the key talking points after Hull City's 2-2 draw at Arsenal on Saturday. Michael Dawson put in his best performance yet, Mohamed Diame was immense again and should Hatem Ben Arfa keep his place against Liverpool?
Michael Dawson emulates big brother Andy
One of the defining moments of Hull City's 2-1 win at The Emirates back in 2008 was Andy Dawson's last-ditch challenge on Theo Walcott. At the same venue on Saturday, it was Michael who put in a man-of-the-match display his older brother would have been proud of.
Against Arsenal, the centre-back gave comfortably his finest performance since joining the club. Had he not gone off injured after 81 minutes, he may just have helped City to another famous three points.
Dawson repelled everything the Gunners flung his way and it seemed fitting that his last act was a heroic block to deny Aaron Ramsay.
His best performances have come at the heart of a three-man defence, because with James Chester and Curtis Davies playing either side of him, Dawson can sit deep. When the game is played in front of him, as it was yesterday, he will excel. It is telling that Eldin Jakupovic was only required to make a save after Dawson had been substituted.
Dawson, who is said by Bruce to have a twisted ankle "the size of a basketball", is now a doubt to face Liverpool and his presence would be sorely missed.
City again dangerous from the flanks
Before the match, more than one person suggested that City should try to pepper the Arsenal box with crosses, so it was no surprise to see the tactic pay off with a well-worked goal immediately after half-time.
It was gloriously simple: the cross from Tom Huddlestone was inch-perfect for Abel Hernandez, whose expert finish recalled his debut goal against West Ham.
It was City's seventh goal from a crossing situation this season and there surely isn't a side in the division more effective from wide areas right now.
As pleasing as it was for us, Arsenal fans must have been tearing their hair out. Hernandez was afforded all the time and space in the world and the home defenders just stood and watched as the net rippled.
On this evidence, Arsenal look a long way from a title-challenging side.
Is there no stopping Mohamed Diame?
Mohamed Diame only linked up with his teammates on Friday after returning from international duty with Senegal, and there were one or two suggestions before the game that he might not be fit to play.
But the midfielder showed no signs of jetlag as he put in yet another immense performance. His remarkable run of form in front of goal continued when he burst through the Arsenal defence to score after 17 minutes.
Arsenal had their complaints, but Diame was simply stronger than Mathieu Flamini and had Roger East blown for a foul, City would have had every right to feel aggrieved.
With four goals in five games, Diame is the top-scoring midfielder in the Premier League – no mean feat for a man fans may have expected to play a supporting role.
He can score with his right foot, his left or his head and his finish yesterday demonstrated incredible coolness as he dinked the ball over Wojciech Szczesny.
Are City facing a goalkeeping crisis?
Crisis is an overused word in football, but with their first and second-choice goalkeepers injured, City are down to the bare bones between the sticks.
Indeed, Steve Bruce said after the match he would recall Mark Oxley from his loan spell at Hibernian.
With Allan McGregor likely to be out for at least another couple of weeks, and Steve Harper forced off before half-time yesterday with a torn bicep, third-choice stopper Eldin Jakupovic was called into action.
It is a blow for Harper, who pulled off one or two decent saves.
Thanks to the sterling effort of those in front of him, Jakupovic was barely called into action. It was not until the 86th minute that he was forced into his first save when tipping Alexis Sanchez's header over the bar.
Jakupovic is much maligned by some City supporters, but he made the saves he would have been expected to make. Limited he may be, but if his defence continues to perform as it did on Saturday, there's no reason to panic.
Ben Arfa's performance offers encouragement
Steve Bruce handed Hatem Ben Arfa his first league start and he put in a solid if unspectacular performance.
Against an Arsenal side that dominated possession, opportunities to impress were at a premium, but when Ben Arfa did receive the ball he looked to make things happen.
For a man making his first Premier League start since March, he looked sharp and showed a neat turn of pace when coming up against the Arsenal defence.
He more than pulled his weight and will feel unlucky if he does not keep his place for next week's trip to Liverpool.
No glory, but future's far brighter than in 2008
City couldn't quite match the heroics of 2008, but the travelling supporters gave them a standing ovation.
And when you look at the bigger picture, the class of 2014 is in a far stronger position than Phil Brown's team of six years ago.
A win yesterday would have been an upset, but unlike in 2008, it wouldn't have shocked the Premier League. The Tigers are far too solid an outfit for that, which is testament to how far Steve Bruce has taken them.
