The emphatic 4-0 win over Blackburn at the weejend gave Arsenal fans hope that the team were coming good at just the right time, just as well with a FA Cup quarter-final against Hull on the agenda tonight.
A win at the Emirates would put Arsenal through to an all London semi final against Chelsea at Wembley on April 18th, the first taste of the ground for most of the Arsenal squad.
Hull had beaten Arsenal at the Emirates earlier in the season, with midfield maestro Geovanni proving to be their main tormentor and scoring the winning goal. The little Brazilian again proved to be a slippery customer tonight, pulling the strings as Hull almost pulled off another major shock.
It was ex-Tottenham player Nick Barmby though who was to provide the most telling contribution for the visitors, putting them into a 13th minute lead.
Arsenal fought back though and managed to pull level through top scorer Robin Van Persie, before a controversial goal by William Gallas put the Gunners through to the semi final.
Arsene Wenger made a few changes to the team that beat Blackburn. Manuel Almunia still suffering from a rash challenge by El-Hadj Diouf was replaced by Lukasz Fabianski in goal, Kieran Gibbs replaced Gael Clichy at left-back, while Johann Djourou replaced Kolo Toure. In midfield Abou Diaby came in for Denilson while Carlos Vela and Robin van Persie replaced Nicklas Bendtner upfront with AndreyArshavin moving to the right wing in place of Samir Nasri.
The opening stages of the match saw both teams sparring, creatingopenings but nothing of note to trouble the two goalkeepers.
The thirteenth minute was unlucky for Arsenal though as Bacary Sagna cleared a hopeful punt upfield, but only as far as hhhdfhg who threaded a ball to Nick Barmby. Johann Djourou closed on the veteran but his block deflected the ball wickedly over Fabianski, one nil to Hull, again.
The crowd rallied behind the team, but as has been the custom in recent months, every move which broke down was greeted with a collective sigh.
Arsenal kept probing for an opening but the Hull defence stood firm. Arsene Wenger patrolling the touchinline started to become agitated at the length of time it took Hull players to take free-kicks, goalkicks and throw-ins, met by the crowd with eardrum-bursting whistles.
It could have been two on dffdgfd minutes as Geovanni, lined up a freekick twenty yards form goal. His curling effort was acrobatically tipped over by the young Pole.
Arshavin looke the most likely to create a chance, and his shot ot on fgddgg minutes was cleared by Anthony Gardner.
Hull could have added to their lead soon afterwards as Kamil Zayatte's header looped agonisingly over the bar from a corner.
But as half-time approached Arsenal, and Arshavin in particular started to turn the screw. He first had a shot cleared and then placed a volley a foot wide of the post.
Arsenal continued their pressure in the second half, without creating many chances. Arshavin thought he was free as he approached a loose ball in the penalty area, only for Sam Ricketts to produce a terriffic challenge to thwart the Russian.
Abou Diaby then came close to equalising, he met an Arshavin header, but could only aim it at the man on the line, Song reacted to the rebound but could only steer it wide of the post.
Van Persie seemed isolated upfront and Wenger soon made some changes. Niklas Bendtner whom Wenger praised for his performance against Blackburn took up the target-man role, replacing Carlos Vela, with van Persie dropping just behind him. Samir Nasri came on for Alex Song who had an effective game but offered less of an attacking threat than the Frenchman.
The substitutions brought Arsenal and Van Persie in particular to life. Now with much-needed support, the Dutchman first fired a free kcik at goal which Boaz Myhill could only thrust out a flailing arm to tip around the post, and then he planted a header onto the bar.
The crowd sensed a goal was coming and it soon did.
On 74 minutes, Bendtner picked the ball up on the byline on the right hand side of the penalty area, and crossed low for Arshavin, the Russian, unseflishly pulled the ball back and Van Persie lashed the ball into the net.
The fans went crazy and they could sense a winnner, and it almost came soon afterwards, but ironically for Hull. Geovanni raced onto a through ball and shot past the advancing Fabianski, but he could only find the side netting.
It was to be Hull's last major chance and soon Arsenal did have their lead.
After sustained pressure, William Gallas, so often Arsenal's saviour with crucial goals popped up again to put Arsenal through to the semi-finals.
Nasri took a free kick from the edge of the area and Johann Djourou leapt to meet the ball, his header deflected off Myhill's glove and went to Gallas, who looke dto be in an offside position. The Frenchman didn't worry though and calmly nodded the ball into the empty net.
It could have been three afterwards, as Bendtner, then Eboue could have scroed but 2-1 was enough to send Arsenal through to an all-London semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley, job done.
A win at the Emirates would put Arsenal through to an all London semi final against Chelsea at Wembley on April 18th, the first taste of the ground for most of the Arsenal squad.
Hull had beaten Arsenal at the Emirates earlier in the season, with midfield maestro Geovanni proving to be their main tormentor and scoring the winning goal. The little Brazilian again proved to be a slippery customer tonight, pulling the strings as Hull almost pulled off another major shock.
It was ex-Tottenham player Nick Barmby though who was to provide the most telling contribution for the visitors, putting them into a 13th minute lead.
Arsenal fought back though and managed to pull level through top scorer Robin Van Persie, before a controversial goal by William Gallas put the Gunners through to the semi final.
Arsene Wenger made a few changes to the team that beat Blackburn. Manuel Almunia still suffering from a rash challenge by El-Hadj Diouf was replaced by Lukasz Fabianski in goal, Kieran Gibbs replaced Gael Clichy at left-back, while Johann Djourou replaced Kolo Toure. In midfield Abou Diaby came in for Denilson while Carlos Vela and Robin van Persie replaced Nicklas Bendtner upfront with AndreyArshavin moving to the right wing in place of Samir Nasri.
The opening stages of the match saw both teams sparring, creatingopenings but nothing of note to trouble the two goalkeepers.
The thirteenth minute was unlucky for Arsenal though as Bacary Sagna cleared a hopeful punt upfield, but only as far as hhhdfhg who threaded a ball to Nick Barmby. Johann Djourou closed on the veteran but his block deflected the ball wickedly over Fabianski, one nil to Hull, again.
The crowd rallied behind the team, but as has been the custom in recent months, every move which broke down was greeted with a collective sigh.
Arsenal kept probing for an opening but the Hull defence stood firm. Arsene Wenger patrolling the touchinline started to become agitated at the length of time it took Hull players to take free-kicks, goalkicks and throw-ins, met by the crowd with eardrum-bursting whistles.
It could have been two on dffdgfd minutes as Geovanni, lined up a freekick twenty yards form goal. His curling effort was acrobatically tipped over by the young Pole.
Arshavin looke the most likely to create a chance, and his shot ot on fgddgg minutes was cleared by Anthony Gardner.
Hull could have added to their lead soon afterwards as Kamil Zayatte's header looped agonisingly over the bar from a corner.
But as half-time approached Arsenal, and Arshavin in particular started to turn the screw. He first had a shot cleared and then placed a volley a foot wide of the post.
Arsenal continued their pressure in the second half, without creating many chances. Arshavin thought he was free as he approached a loose ball in the penalty area, only for Sam Ricketts to produce a terriffic challenge to thwart the Russian.
Abou Diaby then came close to equalising, he met an Arshavin header, but could only aim it at the man on the line, Song reacted to the rebound but could only steer it wide of the post.
Van Persie seemed isolated upfront and Wenger soon made some changes. Niklas Bendtner whom Wenger praised for his performance against Blackburn took up the target-man role, replacing Carlos Vela, with van Persie dropping just behind him. Samir Nasri came on for Alex Song who had an effective game but offered less of an attacking threat than the Frenchman.
The substitutions brought Arsenal and Van Persie in particular to life. Now with much-needed support, the Dutchman first fired a free kcik at goal which Boaz Myhill could only thrust out a flailing arm to tip around the post, and then he planted a header onto the bar.
The crowd sensed a goal was coming and it soon did.
On 74 minutes, Bendtner picked the ball up on the byline on the right hand side of the penalty area, and crossed low for Arshavin, the Russian, unseflishly pulled the ball back and Van Persie lashed the ball into the net.
The fans went crazy and they could sense a winnner, and it almost came soon afterwards, but ironically for Hull. Geovanni raced onto a through ball and shot past the advancing Fabianski, but he could only find the side netting.
It was to be Hull's last major chance and soon Arsenal did have their lead.
After sustained pressure, William Gallas, so often Arsenal's saviour with crucial goals popped up again to put Arsenal through to the semi-finals.
Nasri took a free kick from the edge of the area and Johann Djourou leapt to meet the ball, his header deflected off Myhill's glove and went to Gallas, who looke dto be in an offside position. The Frenchman didn't worry though and calmly nodded the ball into the empty net.
It could have been three afterwards, as Bendtner, then Eboue could have scroed but 2-1 was enough to send Arsenal through to an all-London semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley, job done.
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