Strikers back on form?

Hull 0-4 Arsenal

Arsenal progressed to the quarter finals of the FA Cup with a fine 4-0 victory away to Hull City on Tuesday night. However the Gunners joy at qualifying for the next round of the competition was somewhat tempered by the fact they lost three players to injury and ended the game with a makeshift back four.

Per Mertesacker was the first to be substituted following a nasty clash of heads which had the big German defender stretched out on the pitch for a number of minutes. Mertesacker did return to the field of play in an attempt to continue, but soon signalled to the bench and was replaced by Nacho Monreal.

In the second half Gabriel became the second Arsenal player to signal to the bench advising that he could not carry on and was replaced with Aaron Ramsey as Wenger elected to move Mathieu Flamini to right back and Callum Chambers into the centre of defence alongside Monreal. Given that goalkeeper Petr Cech is also currently out injured, having picked up an injury in the defeat against Swansea, the Gunners have suddenly seen their defensive options decimated over the space of a week. 

It was therefore rather encouraging to see such a makeshift defence, which then also saw Aaron Ramey succumb to injury and be replaced by the inexperienced Jeff Renie-Adelaide in front of them, keep a clean sheet. However in truth that owed much to Hull’s distinct lack of ambition than it did to Arsenal’s defending.

Steve Bruce was never going to prioritise the FA Cup, given that his side are currently competing for a place in next season’s Premier League. Yet the Hull manager’s decision to set his team up to sit as deep as possible and soak up as much pressure as possible appeared very strange. With Arsenal enjoying a great deal of possession but struggling desperately to get any momentum or urgency into their game, there was a very strong possibility that the match would descend into a dull stalemate and go into extra time, something that Bruce would have surely wished to avoid at all costs.

As a result of these ultra-defensive tactics, Arsenal’s attacking midfielders, Joel Campbell, Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott were struggling to get into the game and the Gunners just could not break down the stubborn Hull defence. Fortunately, a mistake from the home side gifted Arsenal the lead and from that moment on they never looked back. As the half time break approached, the experienced David Myler needlessly and carelessly passed the ball back towards his goal keeper without even looking. When he did look up Myler was horrified to see Olivier Giroud completely unmarked inside the box, latching onto the ball and turning it past Jankupovic to celebrate the birth of his second child, end his personal goal scoring drought and give the Gunners the lead all at once.

Having taken the lead, the game was now far more straightforward for Arsenal. Hull would have to come out from their defensive shell and would therefore leave spaces in behind for the away side to exploit. Given the space available, it was no surprise to see Theo Walcott suddenly burst into life, following a first half in which he had struggled desperately.

The Englishman created Arsenal’s second with a fine cross towards Giroud, which the Frenchman volleyed home beautifully, showing great technique to do so while keeping excellent control on the ball. Walcott was not done there and got himself on the scoresheet too. First Joel Campbell’s wonderful through ball found Walcott in the penalty area and the Englishman showed great control, with an excellent first touch teeing up a shot across goal which saw the ball nestle into the bottom far corner of the net. The game was now well and truly won, but Walcott was not finished yet, picking up the ball as the match entered the final minutes and racing forward, towards the box, before unleashing a shot which took a wicked deflection off the Hull defender, catching the goalkeeper out and sealing Arsenal’s fourth of the night.

Despite the injuries that have been suffered, this may well turn out to have been a very important game for the Gunners. Giroud and Walcott have been struggling for goal scoring form and confidence of late but with both players each helping themselves to a brace on Tuesday night, this could well be the injection of confidence that both needed to help them go on a run of games in which they consistently hit the back of the net, something which could help turn Arsenal’s season around. After all it is in the goal scoring department that the Gunners have been desperately struggling of late.

The injuries may not be so severe either. Hector Bellerin did not play on Tuesday night as Wenger elected to rest him and therefore the Spaniard would be expected to return to the starting line up on Sunday as the Gunners face Watford in the quarter finals of the FA Cup. Kieran Gibbs could therefore continue at left back while Callum Chambers and Nacho Monreal could fill in at centre back, if Mertesacker remains out. However, the German is expected to potentially return to action in time for Sunday’s game.  

The win against Hull City was a rather routine victory in the end, but as the players went to celebrate with the fans at the final whistle a banner was unfurled reading “Arsene thanks for the memories but it’s time to say goodbye.” The media were quick to jump on this image as it appeared rather ridiculous given the score line, however it is not the first time this banner has been present at Arsenal’s games and it probably won’t be the last either. While no football supporter can feel entitled to success, the club’s board needs to understand that the fans are deeply frustrated at the fact their side have once again repeated the same mistakes they have been committing for a number of years as they look set to lose out to Leicester City in the most open title race the Premier League has ever seen. That is simply not good enough and questions need to and should be asked.