A few weeks ago, Hull City looked doomed to relegation from the Premier League. However, back-to-back wins over Liverpool and Crystal Palace have restored hope to Steve Bruce's men. Now they're looking to complete a hat-trick against high-flying Arsenal.
Arsenal may have their eyes on the forthcoming FA Cup final, but they'll also want to try and secure second place in the league. The title may have been won, but Arsene Wenger still wants to ensure he finishes as high as possible in the table.
Hull are currently just one point clear of the relegation zone and face a daunting fixture list for the remainder of the campaign. Their home games will be crucial, and they can not afford to be intimidated by Arsenal. This is a fight for survival.
Date: Monday, May 4
Time: 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET
Venue: KC Stadium, Hull
TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.), Sky Sports 1 (UK)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sky Go (UK)
Form Guide (last five results of both teams)
Hull City:
W (1-0) vs. Liverpool
W (0-2) vs. Crystal Palace
L (2-0) vs. Southampton
L (3-1) vs. Swansea City
L (2-3) vs. Hull City
Arsenal:
D (0-0) vs. Chelsea
W (1-2) vs. Reading
W (0-1) vs. Burnley
W (4-1) vs. Liverpool
W (1-2) vs. Newcastle United
Hull are finding form at just the right time. They have won consecutive league matches for only the second time this season. They've also managed to go two games without conceding a goal for the first time since October 2013.
However, Arsenal have also been on an outstanding run. Prior to the draw with champions Chelsea, they have won eight consecutive league games.
This one ought to be close: The Gunners have won each of their last four Premier League away games by a one-goal margin.
Team News
Mohamed Diame remains unavailable for Hull, but they may be able to call upon top scorer Nikica Jelavic. David Meyler is also in contention, having returned from suspension.
Arsenal's only new injury concern surrounds Mathieu Debuchy, who is suffering from a slight hamstring strain. Regardless of Debuchy's fitness, Hector Bellerin is likely to continue in the right-back role. Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are still not ready to make their comebacks.
Predicted Hull XI: Steve Harper; James Chester, Michael Dawson, Paul McShane; Ahmed Elmohamady, Jake Livermore, Tom Huddlestone, Stephen Quinn, Robbie Brady; Nikica Jelavic, Dame N'Doye
Predicted Arsenal XI: David Ospina; Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla; Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez; Olivier Giroud
Since arriving at Hull in January, Dame N'Doye has scored five goals in nine Premier League starts. His predatory instinct is key to Hull's hopes of surviving in the Premier League, and he looks like the man most likely to net against Arsenal at the KC Stadium.
Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny will have to be on their toes to ensure N'Doye does not get the opportunity to shoot down the Gunners.
Hector Bellerin has been one of the surprise stars of Arsenal's season.
In this game, he will have the dual purpose of subduing Robbie Brady and providing Arsenal with an attacking outlet on the right flank. With Aaron Ramsey driving infield ahead of him, it's essential Bellerin gives the Gunners width.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.
(source: http://bleacherreport.com/)
Arsenal may have their eyes on the forthcoming FA Cup final, but they'll also want to try and secure second place in the league. The title may have been won, but Arsene Wenger still wants to ensure he finishes as high as possible in the table.
Hull are currently just one point clear of the relegation zone and face a daunting fixture list for the remainder of the campaign. Their home games will be crucial, and they can not afford to be intimidated by Arsenal. This is a fight for survival.
Date: Monday, May 4
Time: 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET
Venue: KC Stadium, Hull
TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.), Sky Sports 1 (UK)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sky Go (UK)
Form Guide (last five results of both teams)
Hull City:
W (1-0) vs. Liverpool
W (0-2) vs. Crystal Palace
L (2-0) vs. Southampton
L (3-1) vs. Swansea City
L (2-3) vs. Hull City
Arsenal:
D (0-0) vs. Chelsea
W (1-2) vs. Reading
W (0-1) vs. Burnley
W (4-1) vs. Liverpool
W (1-2) vs. Newcastle United
Hull are finding form at just the right time. They have won consecutive league matches for only the second time this season. They've also managed to go two games without conceding a goal for the first time since October 2013.
However, Arsenal have also been on an outstanding run. Prior to the draw with champions Chelsea, they have won eight consecutive league games.
This one ought to be close: The Gunners have won each of their last four Premier League away games by a one-goal margin.
Team News
Mohamed Diame remains unavailable for Hull, but they may be able to call upon top scorer Nikica Jelavic. David Meyler is also in contention, having returned from suspension.
Arsenal's only new injury concern surrounds Mathieu Debuchy, who is suffering from a slight hamstring strain. Regardless of Debuchy's fitness, Hector Bellerin is likely to continue in the right-back role. Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are still not ready to make their comebacks.
Predicted Hull XI: Steve Harper; James Chester, Michael Dawson, Paul McShane; Ahmed Elmohamady, Jake Livermore, Tom Huddlestone, Stephen Quinn, Robbie Brady; Nikica Jelavic, Dame N'Doye
Predicted Arsenal XI: David Ospina; Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla; Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez; Olivier Giroud
Since arriving at Hull in January, Dame N'Doye has scored five goals in nine Premier League starts. His predatory instinct is key to Hull's hopes of surviving in the Premier League, and he looks like the man most likely to net against Arsenal at the KC Stadium.
Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny will have to be on their toes to ensure N'Doye does not get the opportunity to shoot down the Gunners.
Hector Bellerin has been one of the surprise stars of Arsenal's season.
In this game, he will have the dual purpose of subduing Robbie Brady and providing Arsenal with an attacking outlet on the right flank. With Aaron Ramsey driving infield ahead of him, it's essential Bellerin gives the Gunners width.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.
(source: http://bleacherreport.com/)
0 comments:
Post a Comment