Arsenal beat Hull City 4-1 on Saturday afternoon to rise to second in the table. Here are five things we learned from the emphatic victory.
After a midweek trip to Paris, Arsenal returned to their domestic duties with an away Premier League tie with Hull City. The newly promoted side were expected to struggle this season but have surprised many with a series of resolute performances built upon defensive stoutness and industrious midfield play.
This was a potential banana skin for the Gunners, but thanks to the help of attacking trio Alexis Sanchez, Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott, they ultimately saw past the Tigers in relative comfortable fashion. Here are five things we learned from Saturday’s win.
HULL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Hull City and Arsenal at KCOM Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
5. Shkodran Mustafi Recovering From Midweek Nightmare
Throughout the opening weeks of the season, one of the more interesting storylines to keep tabs on is the performances of the new signings. Islam Slimani scored twice for Leicester City, Jack Wilshere struggled for Bournemouth while Lucas Perez and Granit Xhaka sat on the Arsenal bench. There was, though, one new signing who was on full display and after a shaky start, he looked far more composed.
Shkodran Mustafi struggled greatly midweek against Paris Saint-Germain. The dynamic movement of Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria caused all sorts of issues for the Arsenal back four, Mustafi in particular, and there were growing worries that the German international is perhaps not worth the £35 million shelled out to secure his services.
Nonetheless, on Saturday Mustafi looked far more accomplished, both defensively, without the ball and in possession. His partnership with Laurent Koscielny is beginning to blossom with his more measured approach in contrast to Koscielny’s more aggressive nature, and although Hull’s strikeforce is far from the best in the Premier League, Mustafi still had a decent amount to do and did so with minimal fuss. Far from perfect, but certainly an encouraging sign after the midweek struggles.
Arsenal’s English midfielder Theo Walcott celebrates their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Arsenal at the KCOM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, north east England on September 17, 2016. / AFP / Lindsey PARNABY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)
4. Theo Walcott Set For Big Season
Positional uncertainty and horrific injury issues have plagued the career of Theo Walcott. Never enjoying a consistent run in the side in one position, Walcott has had to continually adapt to a differing role in a new side while regaining his match sharpness. However, that could be set to end this season.
Walcott has started every Premier League game on the right wing this season and Arsene Wenger has stated that he expects Theo to elevate his game to the next level. Such development has not yet materialised this year, but on Saturday, there were very encouraging signs that he is beginning to re-find his very best form.
Walcott, after missing the PSG game due to a slight knock, was reinstated immediately in the starting lineup and looked sharp throughout the 90 minutes. His pace was a continual thorn in the Hull side, and his end product seemed to be far more consistent than in previous games this season. Sanchez’s first goal came from a dangerous Theo cross/shot that Jakupovic poorly parried clear
Sanchez’s first goal came from a dangerous Theo cross/shot that Jakupovic poorly parried clear, Sanchez’s second came from a rebound from a Walcott shot after getting in behind the Hull back line and his goal was a delightful finish, clipped over the onrushing Hull keeper. It was certainly not the perfect performance from Walcott, but it was a sign of improvement and perhaps an indication that this could be a big season for the oft frustrating winger turned striker turned winger.
HULL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Granit Xhaka shoots past Hull’s Ryan Mason to score the 4th Arsenal goal during the Premier League match between Hull City and Arsenal at KCOM Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
3. Granit Xhaka Cannot Forge A Role
When a player is signed for £35 million, it is generally accepted that they are set for regular starts whenever they are fit. That is especially true given the nature of Arsenal’s transfer history, frequently spurning opportunities to sign upper echelon players for higher prices. So, you can imagine the surprise when Granit Xhaka was left out of the starting lineup last weekend against Southampton.
That was nothing compared to the shock received when his name was listed under substitutes against PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday. Surely then, Wenger isn’t going to bench is new big name addition for the third time in a week. How wrong that statement was.
Wenger once again picked the reliable pair of Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin over Xhaka, much to the bemusement of many fans. It is becoming a rather worrying pattern, perhaps suggesting that Xhaka may not be the quality of player that Wenger envisaged he would be. Fitness doesn’t seem to be an issue, and Wenger has been willing to start him previously, so perhaps it simply comes down to preferring Cazorla and Coquelin.
Before the match on Saturday, Wenger stated that Xhaka will have an big influence on the coming season. After, though, that statement is not so easy to believe.
HULL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Alex Iwobi celebrates a goal for Arsenal during the Premier League match between Hull City and Arsenal at KCOM Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
2. Alex Iwobi’s Importance And Influence Growing
Drawing 1-1 with Southampton, in need of a creative spark and in search of a goal and with a plethora of options available on the bench, Arsene Wenger decided to turn to the recently returned from injury Alex Iwobi in the hope of rescuing three points in what had been an underwhelming performance up until that point.
It was a peculiar decision at the time and it has since been supported by Wenger’s most recent lineup decisions, choosing to start Iwobi against PSG on Tuesday and once against Hull City this weekend. While he struggled in the Champions League, especially defensively against the marauding Serge Aurier, on Saturday he returned to his creative best, consistently probing a stout Hull defence, drifting in from that left wing.
His assist for Theo Walcott’s goal is sensational, his intelligence, especially with his movement off the ball, and his pace on the counter-attack were all on full display. It was a telling performance from Iwobi and a clear indication of his growing importance and influence within the squad. Hopes abounded surrounding his prospective development after a promising end to last year. He could well develop into a crucial player for Arsenal this season.
HULL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal scores his sides second goall during the Premier League match between Hull City and Arsenal at KCOM Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
1. Is Alexis Sanchez Now A Striker?
Centre-forward has been a position of great uncertainty and yet great consistency. Olivier Giroud, since replacing Robin Van Persie as the central striker for the Gunners, has been a figure of great disagreement among fans. Some see his open play qualities, his aerial ability and hold up play as deserving of great praise, while others point to his inconsistent goalscoring and form as an issue that should see him replaced.
Wenger himself seems to be unclear on his opinion on Giroud, publicly backing his striker while also making bids for alternative options. Such a split in opinion has seen Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal’s star left winger, deputise in a central role due to Giroud’s inability to recover from the European Championships.
His performances have been inconsistent in his new role but against Hull on Saturday, his movement from the false nine position caused huge problems. Whether Sanchez continues his role up front most likely depends on the recovery of Giroud, but there are signs that the Chilean could excel in the role in the right circumstances. Saturday afternoon brought about the ideal circumstances.
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