With both Arsenal and Hull City making plenty of changes to their starting line-ups for this third round FA cup clash at the Emirates, you might have expected a slow and cautious start and perhaps a lack of quality from the start, but that was far from the case.
Arsene Wenger gave both Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell a rare start on either side of Alexis up front. The Costa Rican forward nearly gabe the Gunners the lead within five minutes, showing his pace and dribbling skills before a one-two with Sanchez and a prodded attempt that brought a great save from Harper.
But Hull were looking pretty good as well, passing the ball well and getting at s down both flanks. Tom INce came close after about 15 minutes. It was fairly even at that point but Arsenal took control and got the opener with Mertesacker rising high to head in an Alexis corner.
The Chilean almost made it two straight away but was denied by a brtilliant goal line clearance. Walcott also came close as Cazorla and Rosicky started to pull the strings and create chances. Alexis of course was everywhere, but Campbell was also showing some real skill and Walcott some great awreness and movement, especially considering how long he has been out with injury.
But Hull managed to hold out until the break when Arsenal should probably have finished them off. It was pretty similar after the restart, with Hull having decent possession but doing little with it and us looking dangerous on the break but failing to fashion the clear cut chance to finish the visitors off.
A great run by Rosicky early on and then a chance put wide by Campbell on the hour mark were maybe the best chances for Arsenal. But the longer it went on the more we struggled to get any passing going and the more confidence Hull got. Then a great run from Walcott got him onto a through ball but his finish was rusty. It did seem to spark us into a bit of life at least.
More chances came for Walcott, Alexis and others without another goal and Wenger brought Oxlade-Chamberlain on for Theo with 15 minutes left. The Ox nearly had an instant impact but Hull were riding their luck in the penalty box. But with 10 minutes left, Alexis finally finished them off with a lovely curled finish and an assist from Santi.
Akpom then came on for the Chilean and then Maitland-Niles got a couple of minutes coming on for Campbell. Job done for the Gunners.