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Arsenal 3 - 0 Hull

Other News Materials 20 December 2009 05:03 (UTC +04:00)
Arsenal closed the gap on their rivals at the top of the table after a win against Hull in a feisty encounter, BBC reported.
Arsenal   3 - 0   Hull

Arsenal closed the gap on their rivals at the top of the table after a win against Hull in a feisty encounter, BBC reported.

Samir Nasri sneakily trod on Richard Garcia's foot, sparking a mass confrontation before Denilson curled in a sublime 25-yard free-kick.

Manuel Almunia saved Geovanni's penalty as Hull tried to hit back, but Eduardo finished off a slick move a minute later to double the Gunners' advantage.

Abou Diaby lashed in the third after playing a one-two with Andrey Arshavin.

Yet the scoreline flattered Arsenal as they struggled, particularly without injured skipper Cesc Fabregas, to earn the points that have lifted them back into third place in the table.

Earlier this week Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had complained that the fixture list had been unkind to his side with his players having three games in a week, while Hull had enjoyed a six-day rest.

Certainly Arsenal looked heavy-legged and lethargic as they stuttered through the gears, desperately trying to establish some momentum.

However, while Hull had the first chance of the match when Craig Fagan sent a low shot skidding wide, the visitors looked far from fresh and eager, instead content to sit back and watch Arsenal move the ball around without threat.

Arsenal's early efforts on goal were limited to a deflected Diaby shot, a strike from Nasri that was easily gathered by Boaz Myhill and an Eduardo curler that bent wide.

Arshavin finally got in on the act, slicing a shot wide and Alex Song's header hit a defender.

A game that was crying out for something to happen then turned unsavoury when a petulant Nasri crept up behind Garcia and trod on his foot, which was enough for the Australian to throw himself to the ground.

It provoked wild antics from Nicky Barmby and Stephen Hunt amid a mass of players facing up to each other, resulting in bookings for Hunt and Nasri and no-one covering themselves in glory.

A few needless fouls followed, including one by George Boateng on Diaby that led to Arsenal's goal - and lengthy protests from Hull's players.

From the set-piece, Denilson curled in a beautiful effort that was entirely out of place in an ugly match.

And as the players left the pitch at half-time, the visitors once more voiced their displeasure with Nasri, with the issue threatening to boil over in the tunnel.

Not long after the restart Eduardo produced a moment of great skill to swivel into space on the edge of the box but the quality of the shot was lacking as he poked the ball wide.

It was a let-off for Hull and soon the Tigers were handed a way back into the match when Silvestre was harshly judged to have pulled back Fagan in the penalty area.

Geovanni stepped up to take the spot-kick but Almunia beat the ball away and Hunt headed the rebound wide.

Less than a minute later, Geovanni's profligacy was punished when Arsenal worked the ball well between Diaby and Song, with the former playing the ball in for Eduardo to finish the easiest of chances.

The strike served to settle Arsenal and deflate Hull and a third goal for Arsenal looked increasingly likely.

And it came when the impressive Diaby exchanged passes with Arshavin and then smashed in a shot that left Myhill with no chance.

Hull almost snatched a goal back but Hunt was denied by Almunia, and then at the other end Arsenal substitute Theo Walcott sent a lob inches wide.

Fellow substitute Aaron Ramsay sent a drive just over the bar as Arsenal threatened to add gloss to a win that was down to determination rather than their best form.

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