Arsenal V Hull City Betting – Saturday 19th December (ESPN)

Arsenal V Hull City

Saturday 19^th December – 17:30 GMT

TV Coverage: ESPN

Arsenal

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: LLWWD

Arsenal reverted back to their typical, inconsistent selves on Wednesday night when they dropped yet more points and lost yet more ground on the top two after previously enjoying a fabulous 2-1 win over Liverpool at the weekend. The Gunners now find themselves eight points behind leaders Chelsea and are back in chase mode as they continue their relentless pursuit of United and Chelsea at the summit of the Premiership.

Arsenal started the game brightly at Burnley, even taking the lead through Cec Fabregas just minutes into the game. However, the Gunners were pegged back when Graham Alexander scored yet another penalty, much to the despair of Arsene Wenger on the touchline. Arsenal did have their chances to win the game, as well did Burnley, but neither took their chances and a draw was a fair result come the end, although Arsene Wenger won’t have been happy with his sides overall performance as the Gunners were second best for most parts.

It’s crucial that Arsenal pick themselves up before the arrival of Hull City as anything but a win would be a catastrophe due to this being three points in the bag on paper. However, simialr quotes were being thrown around last season, a game Arsenal lost 2-1, but we don’t expect Arsene Wenger to allow his players to underestimate Hull for the second time running and we fancy Arsenal’s chances at the second time of asking at The Emirates. They have by far the better squad, more quality at their disposal, and The Emirates should be the basis of a strong home performance, one that should lead to not only three points but a comfortable win for the Gunners after a disappointing midweek.

Arsenal’s record at home this season is incredibly strong, 6-0-1, with their only defeat coming against league leaders, Chelsea, a game which Arsenal were well below par in. However, it didn’t take them long, the very next fixture in fact, before Arsenal were back to doing what they do best – winning games, and a win at home to Hull City this weekend would make it three wins in four, complimented by victories over Stoke City (2-0) and Liverpool (1-2). They’ve also been extremely impressive in front of goal at home, scoring 22, up their with the best home records in the league, whilst only managing to ship seven in return, with three of those coming in a single game to Chelsea.

Hull City

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: DWDLD

It can either be seen as a good omen or a bad piece of preparation that Hull City were given the week off whilst were left battling it out during the course of the week. Their opponents on Saturday, Arsenal, being one of those ‘others’. Although the week off would of allowed the players to recuperate after their effortless display at home to Blackburn Rovers at the weekend. However, will that be enough to close the huge apparent gulf in class between these two sides and will Hull make it two wins from two at The Emirates?

Playing at The Emirates is a personal highlight for any small time club pushing for promotion from the Championship but Hull went that extra mile last season when, via a superb Geovanni wonder-strike, snatched all three points from the grasp of Arsenal. However, that was at a time when Hull were still riding the wave of success and emotion from joining the Premiership for the very first time, but they now head down to London in completely different circumstances.

Now, though, Hull don’t have the euphoria of promotion under their belts and are instead having to contemplate a fight for their Premiership survival, with Hull found squirming down in 16th position, just a single point off the relegation zone. Their bigger names have left, with some unknown faces coming in as replacements, but the players Phil Brown has brought in, on a tight budget we must add, simply having made the cut and since the start of last season, Hull have gone from an average side with a dangerous streak in them – to a poor outfit all round.

Hull were, however, building up momentum after a solid run of form – four games unbeaten. That was before their defeat to Aston Villa, losing 3-0, and Hull didn’t exactly bounce back in convincing fashion. The Tigers could only manage a drab 0-0 draw with a poor travelling Blackburn in a match which had six pointer written all over it. Still, it does mean that Hull have lost just once in six outings, but their record against the top four this season doesn’t make for light reading; Chelsea (2-1), Liverpool (6-1), whilst the likes of Sunderland (4-1) and Aston Villa (3-0) have all dished out beatings to Phil Brown’s travelling Tigers.

We can only see this being a one-sided affair as Hull’s record away from the KC has been shocking this season. In six away ventures, Hull have only managed to avoid defeat on two occasions, both being 1-1 draws. Sunderland, Liverpool, Chelsea, Fulham, Burnley and Aston Villa, have all beaten Hull at home this season, all quite comfortably, and we expect to see Arsenal’s name added to the list.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Arsenal W: 1 Hull City W: 1 Draws: 0

The usual advantage of playing at home was nullified last season when these two beat each others at the others respective venues, but it was Hull City who recorded what was the shock result of the season last term when they beat Arsenal 2-1 at The Emirates. Arsenal did get their revenge, though, when they beat Hull 3-1 at The KC stadium later on into the season.

Match Verdict: Arsenal to WIN – 1.20 SkyBet

The Emirates, in front of the Setanta cameras, was the setting for a major shock last season when Hull turned the class books completely on their heads in a 2-1 victory. However, despite how much we would love to see something similar on Saturday, we just can’t see it happening. Arsenal will be gunning for all three points after only managing to pick one up at Turf Moor in midweek, whereas Hull City are no longer an unknown quantity and more one of very little quality. A comfortable win for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal for us here at SoccerBetting.

Match Odds:

Arsenal – 1.20 SkyBet

Draw – 7.50 WilliamHill

Hull City – 19.00 PaddyPower

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Arsenal to WIN Both Halves – 2.10 PaddyPower