Lazy?
Perhaps Hull were lucky to be facing Arsenal without Fabregas, Gallas, Song and Rosicky. To be facing an Arsenal that had played a high tempo game midweek whilst they had their feet up. Lucky to get away with so many nasty fouls and niggles.
In the recent past such bad decisions and pitch would probably have seen the Arsenal fold, but this side never gives up.
In your face
Well Boateng certainly took the in your face theory of how to beat Arsenal a stage further, and got away with it for a while, but most pundits were more interested in Sol's tackle on Kamil Zayatte. I knew this would happen after the Shawcross tackle on Ramsey, that Arsenal would be the ones under the spotlight, not Stoke. They will keep poking around for a nasty tackle so they can say we told you so.
Now anyone who knows Sol knows that he is not that kind of footballer, and his mum loves him. However, I admit you need more evidence than that, and fortunately MOTD pundits were able to show the replay and clear Campbell's good name. He got the ball first and made no attempt to play the player.
They also showed why the non penalty was not a red for Sol; the ball was clearly behind Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink so he didn't miss a goal scoring opportunity. Therefore in spite of Keegan's ramblings on ESPN it was no red.
Arsenal were 1-0 up from a brilliant Arshavin goal on 14 minutes, and Arsenal were cruising until the clearly offside Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink won his penalty. Up stepped Jimmy Bullard freshly returned from frightening the ladies of the Women's Institute and scored. There is no doubt that this raised Hull's confidence and the Tigers seized the initiative.
Not long after Boateng got his marching orders, but Hull were pumped up and for quite a while they looked the better team, even continuing to attack. Meanwhile Arsenal lacked guile constantly getting trapped in front of Hull's 9 men, they were not getting round the back. All that changed when on 66 minutes Walcott replaced the now tired Eboue. Walcott got to the byline again and again. Arshavin missed from a lovely Theo cross, if only Nik had been there.
However, as the clock ticked down I confess I was beginning to lose hope that the Gunners would ever score. Six minutes extra time was added, and on 93 minutes Sagna passed to Denilson who whacked in a speculative shot from a long way out. The goal keeper could only parry it and Super Nik pounced to win the game.
Hull might frighten the Women's Institute but Super Nick is fearless. Wenger is right mental strength is the key. It was the 101st goal this season, and 801 in the premiership.
Winner of the Cult Zero T Shirt
The correct answer was Horse not Moose. True he was known as Moose in the Ukraine, so those who gave both names went into the hat, but those who only wrote in Moose didn't make the cut, as it was his nickname as an Arsenal player that counts. The winner has been informed.
But if you didn't win there will still be two more chances to win one of these great T shirts. Why not visit Cult Zero and order your own, T and remember you choose the slogan and the player.
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Quote:Ares
Now that the dust has settled let us reflect that Hull have the worst Goal Difference in the league for a reason.
Yes I know AT hates statistics but at some stage you got to accept it is not coincidence Hull Circus are in the position they are in the league table.
Bendtner scores against shite defences. No great secret.
Unfortunately for Arsenal football club we can't play against goalkeepers and defenders from the portugese league every week or championship teams or soon to be championship teams every week.
Hull Circus have an atrocious defence. They've conceded 61 goals in 29 games. Everyone scores against Hull. Only Burnley concede more goals than them away and at home only Bolton have let in more goals. Now if Bendtner had scored against Manchester United or Chelsea who've conceded 27 goals in 29 games.. yeah then I'd sit up and start making the comparisons Bendtner made of himsself concerning ibrahimovic, who is overrated anyway.