A stoppage time goal from Danny Welbeck saw Arsenal rescue a point at home to Hull City on Saturday. After an unimpressive performance the Gunners found themselves 2-1 down heading into the dying moments of the match, only for their summer signing to pop up and earn them a draw.
3 things we learned from Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Hull City
Arsenal needed a stoppage time goal from Danny Welbeck to earn a point at home to Hull City.
Despite their struggles, Arsenal made a pretty bright start to the match, and had already forced Hull's veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper into a couple of fine saves by the time Alexis Sánchez opened the scoring in just the 13th minute of play. Some fancy footwork on the edge of the penalty area saw the Chilean give Curtis Davies the slip before poking the ball just inside the Tigers' far post.
However, the Gunners' lead lasted just five minutes, with Hull drawing level out of nowhere through Mohamed Diamé in the 18th minute. The Senegalese midfielder burst straight through the Arsenal defence and muscled Mathieu Flamini off the ball on the edge of the penalty area, before calmly lobbing the ball over Wojciech Szczęsny to level the scoring.
After the equaliser went in, the game settled into a rhythm that would remain unbroken for the rest of the first half. Arsenal generally controlled possession, though Hull remained characteristically solid at the back. They lost goalkeeper Harper to a shoulder injury with five minutes of the half remaining, and the Gunners failed to muster an early test for his replacement, Eldin Jakupović.
However, while the first half ended slowly, the second kicked off with a rather unexpected bang. Just seconds after the second half got underway, Tom Huddlestone swung a deep cross into the Arsenal box which was powered home by striker Abel Hernández. The Uruguayan only started thanks to a late injury to Nikica Jelavić, but he made sure he took his chance.
After going behind, Arsenal dominated possession for the rest of the game, gradually ratcheting up the pressure on the Tigers. Eventually, into stoppage time, their pressure told. A brilliant jinking run from Sánchez saw him carve straight through the centre of the Hull defence, before laying on a simple finish for Danny Welbeck to poke home. It was a crushing blow for Hull, but they still regrouped to hang on for a point.
Arsenal: Szczęsny; Gibbs, Monreal, Mertesacker, Bellerín; Flamini (Ramsey 63’); Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere (Campbell 69’), Cazorla, Sánchez; Welbeck.
Goals: Sánchez (13’), Welbeck (90+1’).
Hull City: Harper (Jakupović 43’); Dawson (Bruce 84’), Davies, Chester; Robertson, Diamé, Livermore, Huddlestone, Elmohamady; Ben Arfa; Hernández (Ramírez 63’).
Goals: Diamé (17’), Hernández (46’).
3 Things
1. Arsenal are seriously struggling
Arsenal haven’t had a great start to the season, but that has been largely excused because of their difficult start. Today was supposed to be the day that they finally kickstarted their campaign with a convincing victory. And, well ... they didn’t. However, it wasn’t just the result that has given fans reason to be worried, but their manner of performance more generally. They crossed the line from fluidity to confused disorganisation, with their attackers lacking in cohesion and penetration until they had all of the momentum late in the match. If it wasn’t for Alexis Sánchez, they’d have lost this match.
2. Hull are Arsenal's antithesis
Hull’s performance at the Emirates was so agonisingly close to being perfect. They knew they weren’t going to be able to match the Gunners for possession, so they sat deep and soaked up pressure. Throughout the first half Abel Hernández barely touched the ball. But they didn’t let their heads drop after going behind, and took their chances with clinical precision when they came. It was a brilliantly organised defensive display, and they were unfortunate to be carved open by Sánchez at the death.
3. Mohamed Diamé is a star
The only thing weirder than West Ham’s decision to sell Mohamed Diamé in the summer is that Hull City won the race to sign him. The Senegalese international has been one of the Premier League’s top midfielders for quite a while, and at 27 years old, it’s not like he’s on his last legs. Brilliantly industrious in both phases of play, Diamé has helped Steve Bruce find a perfect balance alongside Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore. Arsène Wenger can only dream of having such a steely player in his midfield.
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