Arsenal vs Hull City analysis: Alex Iwobi display a comfort on frustrating afternoon for Gunners

Arsenal 0 Hull City

Alex Iwobi (Getty)

Arsenal endured a frustrating afternoon as Championship leaders Hull City held out for a replay but the display of Alex Iwobi and the return of Danny Welbeck provides some consolation.

The Gunners made nine changes ahead of the Champions League meeting with European conquerors Barcelona on Tuesday night, with Iwobi, Welbeck and new signing Mohamed Elneny given opportunities to make claims for first-team football.

But the day belonged to Hull and, more acutely, their impervious goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović as the Tigers delivered a display oozing the sort of defensive discipline and midfield solidity sometimes lacked by their hosts.

Elneny, ensnared from Basel last month, had to wait just seven minutes for his first chance, galloping past central defensive pair Curtis Davis and Alex Bruce, to head straight at Jakupović.

England striker Welbeck, fresh from his explosive match-winning cameo against Leicester City, showcased all the unrelenting desire which has made him a favourite with Emirates regulars. First, the former Manchester United man was denied with a powerful header before blasting wide of the oft besieged Tigers goal. Today was all about match-fitness, though, ahead of tough Premier League and European run-ins.

Iwobi, too, was clearly keen to take the opportunity afforded to him by Arsène Wenger. The 19-year-old, already a full Nigeria international despite just five Gunners appearances, picked up a loose ball with menace on the edge of the area. Born the same year which witnessed the Frenchman take charge at Highbury in 1996, Iwobi curled it just wide of the far post.

The Lagos-born winger almost made a name for himself seven minutes after the break, linking up neatly with Welbeck before unleashing a rocket from 25 yard past Jakupović’s right post. The screw was slowly turning for the hosts but frustration was replacing optimism in the stands.

The woodwork was later rocking as Joel Campbell invited the second-choice Hull goalkeeper to make another extraordinary save to tip his free-kick onto the post. Wenger would have been forgiven for fearing that Louis van Gaal’s ‘law of Murphy’ had spread to the capital.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks on in dismay (Getty)

Steve Bruce’s surprise inclusion of 16-year-old Josh Tymon was quickly developing into a masterstroke with the youthful debutant keeping the Gunners at bay and occasionally being the spark for his side’s rare forays towards David Opsina’s goal.

Jakupović, at the other end, was at it again on the hour-mark as Welbeck’s shot was deflected towards his top-corner. The visiting supporters need not have fretted, however, as the 31-year-old corkscrewed his body to make another astounding save.

Wenger rolled the dice moments later, introducing Alexis Sánchez and Olivier Giroud, despite Tuesday’s meeting with Barcelona lying ominously on the horizon. Welbeck’s afternoon, as a result, came to a close but not without winning a few more hearts and minds in the terraces. Iwobi joined his team-mate on the sidelines moments later as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was thrown on in a desperate attempt by the hosts to avoid a long trip to the KC Stadium.

One wonders whether Wenger, who said in mid-week he was becoming ‘conservatively English’ in his opposition to scrapping replays, was slowly changing his mindset.

Pacing his technical area with increasing grievance, the Frenchman’s substitutions seemed to represent more of a desire for added firepower rather than a dissatisfaction with Iwobi, Campbell or Welbeck.

Footage of yawning supporters, sourced with glee by the broadcast director, however, were hard to ignore as the Hull resolve continued in earnest. After a decent start, Elneny was slipping into subtext. Anguished groans rung around the Emirates at full-time but Wenger and Bruce could only smile.

While hardly a damning indictment, this is hardly the run-in to Tuesday that Arsenal had in mind.