Arsenal v Hull City: The Tigers look to snap winless run against wounded Gunners
By Timothy Dehinbo
Hull City will be hoping they can end their winless run against Arsenal this weekend when the tackle the wounded Gunners at the Emirates stadium.
Arsenal hopes of winning the Premier league since 2004 was dealt a major blow last week when the lost to their rivals Chelsea.
Arsenal aren’t sure of Hector Bellerin fitness, after being pulled out in the early stages of their 3-1 defeat to Chelsea last weekend.
Gabriel Paulista could be called upon to replace the Spaniard against the Tigers. Mohamed Elneny’s return from the African Nations Cup is a boost for the gunners ahead Saturday ‘s game, but Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla are still out injured with Granit Xhaka still missing due to a suspension.
Hull city will be without skipper Michael Dawson and Abel Hernandez for Saturday’s match. Also, Curtis Davies, Markus Henriksen and Ryan Mason remain sidelined.
Midfielder Ahmed Elmohamady is back in contention following African Nations Cup duty with Egypt and on-loan winger Lazar Markovic, is available again, after missing out last week tie.
Key Opta stats:
Arsenal have won seven of their last eight Premier League matches against Hull City (D1) since losing their first game against the
Tigers in the competition, back in September 2008 (1-2 at the Emirates).
Since that 2-1 victory, Hull are winless in 13 games against the Gunners in all competitions, losing 11 (D2) including the recent 2014 FA Cup Final.
Alexis Sanchez has been involved in six goals in three league games against Hull (five goals, one assist).
This will be Marco Silva’s fourth meeting with one of the top six in the Premier League (Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool previously) in his first five league games as Hull boss. Of those previous three games, he’s lost only one (0-2 at Chelsea), drawing 0-0 at Old Trafford and beating Liverpool at home on Matchday 24 2-0.
Silva won on his only previous visit to the Emirates 3-2 with Olympiakos in the Champions League last season. He’s the only manager to lead a Greek side to victory away on English soil in the Champions League/European Cup.
Arsenal have won 15 of their last 17 Premier League games at the Emirates against newly-promoted clubs (D2) since losing 1-0 to Newcastle in November 2010.
Hull haven’t scored in 11 of their 24 league games this season – more often than any other Premier League side.
This game should have end to end drama in it, but Arsenal should win and Make Wenger feel Like the best Manager in the world once again and ward off the pressure of him Leaving the club.
PREDICTION: ARSENAL 3-1 HULL CITY
