All Football

When the fixture list was released by the Premier League, Hull City fans would have no doubt eyed up their dates with the big four with trepidation or false hope, but after a start that has surprised many quarters - having lost only one tie out of five - the Tigers may now feel that stealing a point or three in N5 may no longer be a distant dream.

Much in the same manner as the Gunners’ routine destruction of Reading in seasons gone by, Arsenal may be expectant of a potential whipping boy on the horizon, especially considering their recent irresistable form post-Fulham. They are averaging three goals every game, and even their kids managed to tally six over Championship side Sheffield United: a team that Hull could only manage to scrape one point off during their two games in the same division last term.

In their last Premier League outing Hull City were two goals to the good over a consistent top half club; Everton, but the Tigers stopped roaring and Everton pulled that back. Should they allow Arsenal to dictate play they will get found out, exposed, and annihilated. A fact that manager Phil Brown - who took the club from second bottom in the Championship to 7th in the Premier League in less than two years - is acutely aware of, and he aims to implement Bolton Wanderers’ rough-arm tactics into his own team’s game on Saturday’s late afternoon kick-off.

“For me the Kevin Davies tackle, there was nothing wrong with that,” Brown is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying. “If you take that out of the game Hull City might as well not play at the Emirates on Saturday. If you allow Arsenal to dictate then we are finished. We have got that tackle on our side - they have got the technical side of the game on their side. If they are allowed to express that technical side without tackling, without physical contact, we might as well not turn up.”

There is a general consensus that if you let the Gunners know you’re there early on in the game then they will misfire, but this is now a dated saying, as displayed with the north London side overturning the Trotters first half lead in 67 seconds in their last League tie.

Theo Walcott, who showed glimpses of the player that all Arsenal supporters - and England fans - want him to be last season, seems to be coming on this campaign. Last year there were a few niggling criticisms in his play, ie he deserts his full back and neglects his defensive duties, but now he has added that to his artilery - he can often be found tracking back. The only remaining question mark is his consistency. Should he start tomorrow, which is likely, then he will need to carry on putting in the Milan; the Liverpool; and the Croatian performances that everyone knows he is capable of, and the defender who will be charged with containing him is 29-year old Andy Dawson - good luck son!

This will be the first meeting between these two sides in the Premier League. They have, however, met each other on two League occasions in the past: 1913-14 & 1914-15, Hull held onto a draw in the first match and lost the second 2-1, a lot though has changed in 94 seasons!

FORM GUIDE

Arsenal

23 Sept v Sheffield United (H) WON 6-0 (LC)
20 Sept v Bolton Wanderers (A) WON 3-1 (PL)
17 Sept v Dynamo Kyiv (A) DREW 1-1 (CL)
13 Sept v Blackburn Rovers (A) WON 4-0 (PL)
30 Aug v Newcastle United (H) WON 3-0 (PL)

Hull City

21 Sept v Everton (H) DREW 2-2 (PL)
13 Sept v Newcastle United (A) WON 2-1 (PL)
30 Aug v Wigan Athletic (H) LOST 5-0 (PL)
26 Aug v Swansea City (A) LOST 2-1 (LC)
23 Aug v Blackburn Rovers (A) DREW 1-1 (PL)

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

Mikael Silvestre could finally make his debut after recovering from an injury brought over from Manchester United and a badly bruised leg sustained by Gael Clichy courtesy of an enthusiastic and robust challenge from Kevin Davies.

Abou Diaby’s thigh, Tomas Rosicky’s hamstring; and Eduardo’s leg, all keep this triplet at bay, again.

Samir Nasri could be available for selection after his knee has healed with little complaints but may only make the bench.

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