After Arsenal had doubled the lead early in the second half and with Hull City down to 10 men the Gunners were on easy street but a Snodgrass penalty conceded by Cech with around 15 minutes left put the result into doubt, until Alexis Sanchez kept a cool head to smash a third after Walcott’s shot was saved. The points were safe but there was still time for Granit Xhaka to put the icing on the cake with a long range screamer.
Both teams began with a great intensity and the pace of the game was fairly frenetic with neither side really able to get control in the first 10 or 15 minutes, but having matched the home side’s work rate the Gunners were able to show the superior class and with Cazorla, Ozil and all we began to dominate possession and create chances.
Alexis Sanchez was looking sharp through the middle, even though he did often come deep. Iwobi and Walcott on the flanks were linking up well and both full backs were getting forward and Arsenal were soon rewarded with the opening goal. There was a slice of luck involved as Iwobi’s shot was deflected off Alexis giving the keeper no chance.
We dominated the half after that and really should have scored more, especially when Coquelin’s shot was blocked with a hand to give us a penalty. For some reason Alexcis took it instead oif Cazorla and it proved costly as it was a poor attempt which was saved.
The Hull keeper made many more saves and but for him the game would have been done and dusted at halftime. It only took 10 minutes of the second half for us to get that breathing space, with Walcott producing a fine finish to a great set up by Alex Iwobi.
THat should have been that and we had lots of chances to score more but did not and so when Hull scored a 79th minute penalty and got their tails up it could have gone wrong, but just a few minutes later the Chilean scored to secure the points and make the last minutes a lot more comfortable.
Xhaka produced an injury time stunner to cap a fine day and keep the title challenge on track.