Hull City vs Arsenal team news: Arsene Wenger and Steve Bruce both name unchanged starting line-ups for KC Stadium clash

The match kicks off at 8pm

James Orr
Monday 04 May 2015 19:16 BST
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Laurent Koscielny makes milestone Arsenal appearance tonight
Laurent Koscielny makes milestone Arsenal appearance tonight (Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger has named an unchanged Arsenal team from the one who drew 0-0 with Chelsea last weekend for tonight's Premier League fixture at Hull.

French defender Laurent Koscielny makes his 200th appearance for the club in the game at the KC Stadium.

Steve Bruce has also named an unchanged Hull XI.

Teams

Hull: Harper, Dawson, Chester, McShane, Elmohamady, Brady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Quinn, Aluko, N’Doye.

Subs: McGregor, Rosenior, Bruce, Robertson, Meyler, Hernández, Jelavić

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.

Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Wilshere, Rosicky, Walcott.

Wenger, meanwhile, has defended Olivier Giroud following criticism from former Arsenal striker and club legend Thierry Henry, and admitted that it was a similar scenario when Henry started out at the club.

Henry was scathing in his belief that Giroud can’t guide Arsenal to the title, claiming he “does a job” but that he isn’t good enough to lead the Gunners to a first Premier League success since 2004.

“I think Giroud is doing extremely well. But can you win the league with him? I wouldn't think so,” Henry said in his role as a pundit on Sky Sports following the 0-0 draw with Chelsea on 26 April.

However, Wenger has leapt to the defence of Giroud, who has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season and 12 in 2015 having suffered a broken leg early in the season.

“I think he’s wrong,” said Wenger, ahead of today’s Premier League trip to Hull. “He’s paid for that. We know all the system now of the modern media, especially on TV. I know how it works. They push you to be controversial because they give you a lot of money.”

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