Grim day at the Emirates..

Hull City stunned Arsenal by coming from a goal behind to secure a famous win and become only the second side to win at the Emirates. A Cesc Fabregas goal opened the scoring for the Gunners but a Geovani screamer and a Cousin header sealed a shock win for Hull City. As the Score ended 2-1.

An amzing strike from Geovani in the Second half equalized and gave confidence to Hull after the hour mark.

Arsenal’s youngsters had stolen the headlines all week, and rightly so, for their 6-0 Carling Cup demolition job of Sheffield United.  However, none of the Carling Cup side made it into the starting lineup for today’s game against Hull.

Yet despite having restored his first team, Arsene Wenger’s side struggled against their newly promoted opponents and endured a frustrating first half which ended goalless despite the home side’s best efforts.

Instead, a profligate Gunners reverted to their old ways, overplaying the ball when often well-placed whilst the visitors defended stubbornly and with a confidence borne of their strong start to the season.

Keeping with the general theme of the week, it was one of Arsenal’s youngest players who had the best chances of the first half.

Theo Walcott had several opportunities to open the scoring for the Gunners but a combination of excellent defending and wanting too much time on the ball denied the young Englishman.

Whilst the Gunners dominated possession and carved out some excellent opportunities they rarely threatened Myhill in the Hull City's goal and a frustrated Arsene Wenger could only watch on in dismay.

However, whilst the first half was largely disappointing fare, the second period sparked into life within minutes of the restart with Hull almost taking the lead. The Gunners failed to clear a corner and a speculative shot from Boateng was saved almost on the line by Fabregas’ outstretched leg.

The chance spurred Arsenal into life and less then five minutes they were ahead, albeit through the scrappiest of goals.

Van Persie played Walcott in on the break and he bamboozled several Hull defenders before a low cross was deflected off Adebayor into the path of a combination of Fabregas and McShane who bundled it into the net.

Minutes later and it should have been two. Van Persie set up Eboue but his attempted back heel was deflected into the path of Adebayor, who, with the goal at his mercy, took too much time, and his shot was well defended and deflected high and wide by the Hull defence.

With a lead established Arsenal threatened to overwhelm Hull who were left rocking by the home side’s change in tempo yet they held firm and to the dismay of the home crowd hit back in stunning style.

Geovani put them level on the hour mark, leaving Arsenal to rue their missed chances. A stunning strike from the Brazilian from out on the left, swerved and dipped into the top corner leaving Almunia absolutely no chance and putting the sides back on level terms

Only minutes later and Hull were in dreamland. A corner in from the right found Cousin outjumping William Gallas and his header flew over Fabregas on the post and into the back of the net.

A shocked Wenger responded quickly, throwing on Bendtner and Vela as Arsenal pressed forwards searching for an equaliser.

The Lead for Hull given by Cousin.

Van Persie came close after being put through by Fabregas but Gallas came even closer, his header coming off the bar and hitting Vela but falling wide. Myhill then tipped over a fine strike from Fabregas in stoppage time as Hull held on for a famous victory to continue their fantastic start to life in the top flight.

Arsenal, meanwhile, fabulous in midweek, trudged off at the final whistle thoroughly dejected leaving Arsene Wenger, who having just his watched his dislodged from the top of the table and conceding again from a set piece, with much to ponder.

A set back for the Gunners but it's still the beginning of the season and Arsenal need to work on their Set pieces and finishing.

Arsenal: Almunia, Clichy, Toure, Gallas, Sagna, Walcott (Vela, 76), Fabregas, Denilson, Eboue (Bendtner, 68), Adebayor, van Persie

Hull City: Myhill, Turner, Dawson, McShane, Ashbee, Zayatte, Boateng (Garcia, 76), Marney, King, Geovani (Hughes,72), Cousin (Mendy, 79)

GOALS

1-0 Arsenal (Fabregas, 50)

1-1 Hull (Geovani, 62)

1-2 Hull (Cousin, 66)

ThecrookedcapAll-Star

409 days ago

Score 4

Bad result for Gunners fans, but fun to watch from a neutral perspective. Hull has played well above their weight so far this year. We might see yet another first time first division team survive if they can keep it up.

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A QQVarsity

409 days ago

Score 2

Geovani's Goal was a bomb, no goalkeeper could ever get that!

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RomiezzoLegend

409 days ago

Score 1

Arshene Wenger was definitely right in his interview after the game: they lost their concentration. Like most upsets, Arsenal just got too overconfident after they scored their first goal.

In my opinion, it was Arsenal's overconfidence and Hull's defense that helped win it in the end. As soccer fans worldwide know, Arsenal has an excellent offense. For a team like Hull to be able to do well recovering from every position Arsenal had was just tremendous. After they got the lead in the 66th minute, all they had to do was rely on their defense... which is what I assume made them win the game; I say assume since I didn't watch the game.

With a victory like this, this has gotta pump up a team like Hull City.

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A QQVarsity

409 days ago

Score 3

btw, its Arsene Wenger.. also Cocky.. did you see Arsenal's goal.. it was a complete fluke that went in.. Romi Arsenal never stopped and they didn't get at all cocky..

Arsenal pushed but you have a point Hull's defense stood strong but Arsenal were not complacent that much, Geovani's goal as i said.. no goalie could touch it.. Cousin well it was a wonderful header.. but they were not cocky or overconfident at all..

Arsenal just couldn't get their Shots on target they need to get their finishing straight..

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RomiezzoLegend

408 days ago

Score 0

I just watched the video, A QQ. You couldn't be more right about Arsenal's goal. Arsenal's Theo Walcott was trapped with little room in between the defender and goal line, and he needed to get rid of the ball. Thankfully for Arsenal, the ball deflected off Denilson after the ball went through the legs of Zayatte when Arsenal's Fabregas touched it with his foot; the defenders weren't able to get the ball in time, as the ball passed the line for a goal.

Yes, the goal was a fluke, but coming into the match, they had to think to themselves that this was an easier game to win than a game against... Man U or Chelsea (of course). The two goals Hull City collected were brilliant! Nothing else to say about that (except maybe the description of the goal). ;)

Wenger said it himself after the match:
"Maybe it is because human beings are not always machines. We thought subconsciously that we will make it, that's basically it. But after we were 1-0 up and that's when we were a bit careless. Instead of pushing on and scoring a second goal, we gave too much room to Hull and in the end we were caught."

So, basically, I assumed that Wenger believed that they didn't play at 100%, like you should in every game, no matter who you face.

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A QQVarsity

408 days ago

Score 0

it was adebayor.. not denilson.. but true.. wenger meant was that they werent getting their second goal they were complacent in scoring and finishing i did not write the whole quote as wenger says alot to.. but Arsenal could not get the ball in the back of the net..

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Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

407 days ago

Score 0

Nuts...hopefully Le Boss makes the right changes for Porto on Tuesday.

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