Arsenal 3-0 Hull – 19/12/09 – (Premier League) 20 December, 2009

Before the game I tried to point out the importance of three points yesterday, not just to fuck off Phil Brown, but also to bounce back from the draw at Burnley. The performance wasn’t quite there but we still managed to beat Hull 3-0 and with Man United’s unexpected 3-0 loss to Fulham we’re just two points behind them with a game in hand. It just goes to show that anything can happen this season and we have to just keep going because you never know where points might be dropped. Wenger said after the game that the most consistent team will win the league and he’s right.

Yesterday we took quite a while to get into the game, we had a few chances in the first half but they were spread far apart and we struggled to get a good few minutes of pressure in. Hull were hardly threatening but they were shutting us down and not allowing us to play our football.

Eduardo hit a curling effort from the corner of the box that went just the wrong side of the post, so close to scoring out of nothing – that’s the Eduardo we miss. Five minutes before half time Song made a good run for a header that deflected wide, could’ve maybe directed the shot better.

We were by far the team with the more quality but we were hardly convincing and you couldn’t say we deserved to be in the lead all that much. The game was a bit lifeless really, Hull’s anti-football mixed with our tired legs created a slightly dull encounter; the game needed a goal or something to spark a bit of life into it.

In the end it took a mass brawl involving everyone on the pitch – and it did just the trick! It all started when we were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and the next thing I know fists are being thrown. I sit down the other end of the pitch so I couldn’t see how it was started but apparently Nasri stamped on a guys foot and it all kicked off.

In the end Nasri came out of it with a yellow card and so did some other cunt but there could’ve easily been a red shown. Nasri took the kick and it came to nothing but a few moments later we were awarded another in the same position. Samir looked to be taking it again but joined the wall leaving it for Denilson. The Brazilian stepped up and scored it with a great curling shot over the wall into the bottom left corner. Afterwards Wenger said he wasn’t even meant to be taking it but it was a finish anyone from David Beckham to Ronaldo would’ve been proud of.

So we went in 1-0 at half time, there were some harsh words exchanged as the players walked in and I was looking forward to an exciting second half.

Everyone expected Hull to come out and have a go and they did. They might’ve had the fresher legs but we had the greater skill and almost made it 2-0 straight away. Arshavin played it into Eduardo’s feet on the edge of the box and with a brilliant turn found himself one-on-one. A pre-leg-break Eduardo would’ve slotted that away with ease but it was typical of his current form to put it wide.

I said to my brother, ‘Eduardo just can’t score any more.’ I knew straight after saying that he’d pop up with the second and so he did.

But before that was the turning point of the game. Hull were awarded a penalty for a nothing challenge by Silvestre. It was given for the slightest of shirt-pulls off the ball and the ref wasted no time in pointing to the spot. It was the sort of thing you’d let go outside the area but he decided it was a penalty. Bizarre. Anyway so Geovanni stepped up to give Hull the chance of drawing level. I turned away in disgust and watched everyone cheer as Almunia saved it! I watched the replay and Almunia guessed right but it went straight back into the path of Geovanni who just as he was about to head it in had Stephen Hunt come charging in with his head too and made it go wide. Fucking hilarious and totally deserved for the stupid, dirty, hobbit-looking twat.

That was Hull’s chance to get back in it and they blew it, you just knew we would soon make it 2-0 and Hull would regret that miss. Eduardo’s goal came just three minutes after that penalty but the credit has to go to Diaby. He got down the left side of the box, took the ball to the byline and waited patiently for the right pass into the middle. Eduardo was there for the tap-in and it was 2-0 Arsenal.

Great piece of skill and composure from Diaby and it was another great game from Diaby. He seems to be shite for 3 or 4 games and then have a great performance that leaves you thinking why he can’t do that every week. Well yesterday was one of those and everything good came through him, he stepped up to Cesc’s plate and did himself proud yesterday. All he needed was a goal and that came 10 minutes before the end.

A great through pass by Arshavin was controlled well by the Frenchman who took it through on goal. His shot hit the ‘keeper but it still went it and it was game over – 3-0 Arsenal.

Theo Walcott missed a great chance to make it 4-0 when he controlled a long ball down well after his inwards run was spotted. The ‘keeper came quickly so he didn’t have long to think and went for the lob that just bounced agonizingly wide. Theo could’ve really done with a goal yesterday for his confidence and it’s such a shame that it didn’t come off for him. Good run though.

So 3-0 it ended up and good win for us. We’re still not playing our best but we’ve pulled out another result and that’s all that matters. We’re going to have to up our game a little bit though for next week as Aston Villa come to town. They’re level on points with us (although we have a game in hand) so it’s a massive game. Build up to come this week. Thanks for reading.