Arsenal vs Hull City player ratings: How did Danny Welbeck fare on first start in nearly a year?

Arsenal 0 Hull City 0

Sam Dymond,James Benge

Saturday 20 February 2016 17:06 GMT

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

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1/23Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

ARSENAL: David Ospina - 5 out of 10

Arsenal’s dominance meant that Ospina was rarely involved in the action, but when he was called upon the Colombian was far from convincing. Nowhere was this more apparent than from crosses, with Koscielny having to come to his goalkeeper’s rescue in the first half.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Calum Chambers - 7 out of 10

Looked at ease as a right-back for the first time in over a year, though this may have been due to Hull playing only one man out wide. The visitors’ lack of numbers allowed the youngster to get forward, from where he created several chances his team-mates ought to have converted.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Per Mertesacker - 6 out of 10

Just the sort of game the vice-captain would have wanted ahead of the visit of Barcelona, a comfortable match where he had little to do bar get a head on the odd long ball.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Laurent Koscielny - 6 out of 10

As is too often the case Koscielny can be prone to the odd error, and had it not been for Per Mertesacker’s fortuitous positioning he could have picked up a red in the first half. That moment seemed to spur the Frenchman into action, he did nothing wrong after.

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Kieran Gibbs - 6 out of 10

Neat and tidy from Gibbs, who covered well when Elmohamady got forward but was more involved as an attacking force. His overlapping gave Welbeck and then Sanchez the space to cut infield and test Jakupovic.

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Mathieu Flamini - 5 out of 10

A better team than Hull might have exploited what could generously be described as Flamini’s erratic positioning. Even the visitor’s B-team were able to make the most of the gaping holes the ‘anchorman’ left.

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Mohamed Elneny - 8 out of 10

Energetic yet composed this was a very, very encouraging display for what is just a second game in English football. An early through-ball that took Hull’s five-man backline out of the game typified Elneny’s impressive output in a very pleasing display.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Joel Campbell - 7 out of 10

His recent demotion from the starting lineup does not seem to have affected Campbell’s at times flaky confidence. Whenever he got the ball he would look for the ambitious pass that would cut Hull apart. They didn’t always come off but it was the sort of ambition Arsenal needed against their opponent’s massed ranks.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Alex Iwobi - 8 out of 10

Another relatively inexperienced member of the Arsenal squad to make the most of a starting opportunity, it was Iwobi’s composure around the penalty area that impressed most. Tasked with making the hosts tick as a number 10 time and again he found team-mates breaking into space in a way that would make Mesut Ozil proud.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Danny Welbeck - 7 out of 10

For a first start in over 300 days there were plenty of bright moments from Welbeck. Certainly he appears to offer something different to both Walcott and Giroud, offering direct dribbling and an ability to get past players. He visibly tired in the second half, but he had already made his case.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Theo Walcott - 6 out of 10

His incision in front of goal still seems to have gone missing, but Walcott looked far more at ease leading the line, finding space inside the area and getting into shooting areas without ever quite adding the finishing touch.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

FROM THE BENCH: Alexis Sanchez - 5 out of 10

The moment when he passed the ball straight into touch with Walcott in space inside the area was entirely typical of a far from impressive display off the bench.

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

HULL CITY: Eldin Jakupovic - 9 put of 10

The stand-in goalkeeper produced a series of superb saves to earn his side a lucrative replay

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Curtis Davies - 7 out of 10

Hull's only survivor from their last league game, he overcame an early knock to marshal a deep defensive line.

2016 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Alex Bruce - 8 out of 10

Caught out by the movement of Arsenal's forwards in the first half and fortunate not to concede a penalty, he put his his body on the line time and time again to deny the hosts.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Harry Maguire - 7 out of 10

The centre-half was typically committed in the tackle, his presence in his own box was much more impressive than in Arsenal's where he was booked for diving.

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Ahmed Elmohamdy - 6 out of 10

The attacking full-back found himself pinned back by Arsenal's attack, and ultimately looked rusty on the rare chances he had to counter.

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

John Tymon - 8 out of 10

An incredibly impressive performance from the 16-year-old who remained responsible at the back, and showed flashes of skill on the break.

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Shaun Maloney - 6 out of 10

An unusually disciplined display from the Scot, he held his line in midfield and took one for the team went bringing down Walcott as Arsenal looked to break.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

David Meyler - 8 out of 10

The captain put in a tenacious midfield performance, snapping at Arsenal heels and often clearing the danger.

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Ryan Taylor - 6 out of 10

Remained more of a threat from set-pieces than open play, his free-kicks tested the Arsenal defence before he was eventually replaced by Huddlestone.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Nick Powell - 6 out of 10

The on-loan midfielder, making his debut, demonstrated numerous neat touches, but visibly tired in the second half before his removal.

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Arsenal vs Hull - player ratings

Adama Diomande - 5 out of 10

Little opportunity for the forward to demonstrate his attacking ability, but his pace did frighten Koscielny and co on a couple of occasions.

2016 Getty Images

FA Cup holders Arsenal were left frustrated as they were held to a goalless fifth-round stalemate by a resolute Hull.

With the Gunners coming up against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, manager Arsene Wenger made nine changes while Steve Bruce went one further as his side showed 10 alterations as promotion back to the Barclays Premier League clearly remains Hull's top priority.

It was one of those changes, goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, who was the star man for the visitors as he kept Arsenal at bay with a number of superb saves to keep the score at 0-0 despite almost total dominance from the home side.

Who disappointed for the Gunners? Did Danny Welbeck impress on his return? Did Alex Iwobi make a claim for more regular first-team action?

Scroll through our gallery (above) to see the ratings.

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