After Sanchez opened the scoring in the 17 minute, slightly fortuitously, as a shot from Alex Iwobi went in off a deflection from the Arsenal forward, the away side should have gone 2-0 ahead, but Mesut Ozil shot high with the goal gaping off a rebound, following a brilliant low save from Jakupovic to deny the equally excellent Iwobi.
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“The players need to take credit for what they’ve given, but also need to learn lessons from what they didn’t achieve in this game”.
Prior to the Hull fixture, Arsenal had been awarded three penalties this season with Theo Walcott missing against Liverpool in the opening Premier League fixture while Santi Cazorla netted from the spot in the 3-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road then against Southampton.
Arsenal doubled their advantage shortly after the break.
Neil Fissler of the Sunday Express reported the Citizens are the latest European powerhouse to intensify their interest in Sanchez, who has already entered the final two years of his current Arsenal deal. After a fabulous one-two with Iwobi, Walcott burst into the box, clipped the ball over Jakupovic and Hull substitute Harry Maguire, in his desperation to get back, headed into his own net. Hull wouldn’t let them.
Though Alexis Sanchez with two, Theo Walcott and Granit Xhaka were the goalscorers, Alex Iwobi was the real star.
Sanchez added his second before Robert Snodgrass converted a spot-kick for Hull.
Wenger will not be rushed into buying or into picking the men he eventually purchases.
“The new players have settled in quickly”.
Even when he has an off day Sanchez can be a match-winner.
Whatever the delay is over caretaker manager Phelan’s future at the KCOM Stadium, Hull’s owners should get it sorted immediately.
It has been a period that has seen the likes of Manchester City and Leicester City win titles while the Gunners squander repeated opportunities, clawing their way into the top each and every year without ever mounting a serious title challenge. He was magnificent throughout. The sequence that led to the penalty, though, was a big talking point, with Jake Livermore, the former Tottenham layer, given a straight red card by referee Roger East. The International Football Association Board’s changes to the law this summer only ruled out dismissals for “accidental” fouls that led to penalties, not for deliberate handballs.
Hull made and wasted chances in the first half, but were unlikely to recover once Livermore was dismissed. Phelan has cultivated a team with great spirit here.
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Despite a second home defeat, Hull looked a unified team too and there will be no alarm bells.
