Date: Wednesday, December 4 Venue: Emirates Stadium Kick-Off: 19:45 Can Arsenal reassert their dominance at the top of the Premier League when they play host to Hull City in the Premier League on Wednesday, or will the Tigers record another famous win?
Team News
Arsenal will be without Bacary Sagna due to a hamstring injury, with fullback Carl Jenkinson set to replace the Frenchman. Lukas Podolski is expected back in training this week following a hamstring injury of his own but this match will come too soon for the forward. Hull will be without Curtis Davies through suspension, meaning James Chester could make only his first appearance since September. Matty Fryatt is back in the squad after being recalled from his loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday. (bbc)
Key Stats
Arsenal have won eight of the last nine matches against Hull in all competitions (W8, L1). Hull were the first team ever to record a comeback victory at the Emirates, doing so in their famous 2-1 victory in September 2008. The Gunners have taken 36 points from a possible 48 (W11, D3, L2) at home in 2013, including 15 from 18 (W5, L1). Hull have won just one of their last 30 Premier League away games (W1, D7, L22) - 10 points from a possible 90.
Arsenal look as though they're going to stay top of the tree in the run-up to Christmas, but face a busy winter schedule that will test those credentials, starting tonight against Hull. The visitors come into this game off the back of a sensational 3-1 victory over Liverpool, and will be looking to claim another scalp at the Emirates. Since promotion, Steve Bruce's side have shown the pluck and steely determination needed to survive in this league - and they will need to show those qualities tonight if they are to take anything off Arsenal. The Gunners too are in a good run of form, impressively beating Cardiff 3-0 at the weekend - no mean feat, that - just ask Manchester City and United, who both floundered in Wales. Arsenal have won eight of the last nine matches against Hull in all competitions and I expect that streak to continue here - though Hull may not be tamed as easily as the Bluebirds were at the weekend. Prediction 2-0
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
