Arsenal overcame a 10-man Hull City side by two goals at the Emirates. Alexis Sanchez scored a controversial goal that got his side the lead in the first half and then went on to score a penalty late in injury time to seal a win for his side.
Arsene Wenger watched from the stands and saw his side get the three points through the Chilean’s efforts. Hull were unlucky in the game for the decisions that went against them, while this ended Arsenal’s two-game losing streak.
Here are the talking points from the game:
#1 Not many Arsenal fans in attendance at the Emirates
There were 10,000-15,000 seats empty at the Emirates during the game between Arsenal and Hull City today. Whether this was a protest by the Arsenal fans against the club’s recent results or not is uncertain, but it was a compelling picture as the game kicked-off at the Emirates. Many Arsenal fans voiced their concerns about losing two games in a week and denting their title chances, particularly after losing the London derby to rivals Chelsea last weekend.
Today, a large contingent of Gunners fans failed to turn up at the Emirates for their side’s crucial game against Hull City, where the London club simply had to win to stay challenging for the title as well as keep their Champions League qualification on track.
This could have been a warning and a message to the Arsenal board that many fans are becoming increasingly discontent with Arsene Wenger and his players’ performances.
#2 Alexis Sanchez’s dubious hand-ball goal
Alexis Sanchez scored a memorable goal today, for all the wrong reasons. After a corner came into the box and an ensuing goal-mouth scramble, the Chilean forward scored after the ball clearly struck his hand and went in.
The goal was given by the referee Mark Clattenberg and his linesmen, who did not see the incident, despite replays showing that the ball did in-fact go in off Sanchez’s hand. Although it was a ricochet that the player could do nothing about – isn’t a hand-ball still a foul?
The deliberate/not deliberate grey area of the refereeing rules were once again called into question, nonetheless. It was very unfortunate for Hull City who were battling for everything in the game until then. It made it 1-0 to Arsenal and Marco Silva’s men faced an uphill struggle from then on.
Hull’s Andy Robertson confirmed that Clattenberg apologised to the Hull manager and players for the poor decision.
#3 A good game from Hull’s Lazar Markovic
Lazar Markovic, who is on loan at Hull from Liverpool, had a fine game for the Tigers. He was their stand-out performer in the game and gave Kieran Gibbs a game to forget. The former Benfica winger created a number of chances for his side but they could not score.
Markovic further proved to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp why he should put faith in the player, especially since the Reds were found wanting in the wing-play department after Sadio Mane left for the AFCON Cup. Perhaps it is time that his parent club call the player back from his loan and start giving him some game-time in a Liverpool shirt.
#4 Hull City’s Sam Clucas sees red for a hand-ball; Sanchez converts from the penalty spot
Sanchez was involved again as he sped past Hull City’s goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic who came off his line to thwart the danger. The Chile international crossed the ball into the box for Arsenal substitute Lucas Perez, who then headed at goal.
Sam Clucas who was on the line for the Tigers blocked the ball from going in, with his arm. This time, the referees spotted the incident and sent Clucas off for stopping a clear goal. Alexis Sanchez stepped up and drilled the ball home to give the Gunners the win with his second in the 90+3’ minute.
#5 A much-needed clean-sheet for Arsenal
Maybe this was only Hull, but the Arsenal defence and Petr Cech conceded 5 goals in their last two games leading to them losing two on the trot in the Premier League. Mustafi was troubled a bit by Niasse’s movement but made sure he did not score, while Koscielny supported the German by sweeping things at the back.
This was a much needed clean sheet for the Gunners defence and their veteran goalkeeper Cech, especially considering their next game is against the mighty Bayern Munich in the Champions League. If Arsenal can do the same at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Wednesday night, then it’ll do wonders for the defence’s confidence. Tight defences win you titles most of the times.
