20 Apr 2014 17:42:18
Lukas Podolski scored twice
as Arsenal claimed an
important 3-0 victory at Hull
City on Sunday in his side's
quest for a top-four finish
and FA Cup success.
In a preview of next month's FA Cup final at
Wembley, Arsenal scored an important
psychological edge over Steve Bruce's team
after Aaron Ramsey shot them in front.
German forward Podolski then added two
goals in the space of eight minutes, either
side of halftime.
Following on from his two-goal display
against West Ham United in mid-week, it
meant that in the space of five days, he has
doubled his tally of league goals for the
season to eight.
Aaron Ramsey, playing his fourth game in
two weeks after a three-month lay-off with a
thigh injury, made a telling impact with a
goal and an assist as Arsenal scored twice in
the final 15 minutes of the opening half to
take a strong grip on the game.
The second goal was spectacular, if
contentious, as Hull claimed that they should
have been awarded a free-kick deep in
Arsenal territory after Nikica Jelavic went
down under pressure from Mikel Arteta.
Referee Jon Moss disagreed, however, and
allowed the Gunners to launch a devastating
counter-attack.
It ended with Olivier Giroud lofting over a
cross that Ramsey chested into the path of
Podolski, who buried a superb left-foot volley
in the back of the Hull goal from 15 yards.
The opening goal, after 31 minutes, had been
almost as impressive and featured a
characteristic flowing move from Arsene
Wenger's side.
The move started on the halfway line and
saw Ramsey spray the ball wide to Mesut
Ozil; another Arsenal player who is fit again
after injury.
His pass to Santi Cazorla was helped on to
Ramsey, who steered his ninth league goal of
the season past Steve Harper in the Hull
goal.
The opening goal had been coming, with
Harper called upon to keep out Podolski's
18-yard strike a few minutes earlier,
although Hull had enjoyed more possession
until that point.
Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was
forced to show good handling in the 14th
minute, diving smartly to keep out a first-
time strike from Jelavic.
A goal behind, Hull had their best chance yet
when David Meyler set up Jake Livermore for
an 18-yard strike that beat Szczesny but
rebounded to safety via the foot of the
goalkeeper's right-hand post.
Just before the second Arsenal goal, Shane
Long should have done better with a
mistimed header from a Liam Rosenior cross
that Szczesny saved with ease.
Hull substitute Matty Fryatt, on for the
injured Long, had an early opportunity soon
after the restart, but Tom Huddlestone's pass
took an unkind bounce as he aimed to head
past Szczesny.
Any lingering uncertainty about the destiny
of the three points was removed after 54
minutes when Podolski claimed his second
goal, and Arsenal's third.
Once again the build-up was intricate,
culminating in Cazorla picking out Ramsey
from the left-hand byline.
The Welsh international's 15-yard shot was
well saved by the outstretched boot of
goalkeeper Harper, but the rebound fell
kindly for Podolski to convert from close
range.
Arsenal should have scored a bizarre fourth
goal after 64 minutes when Harper
misjudged a back-pass, gifting the ball to
Giroud, who struck the underside of the bar
from practically on the byline.
Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker headed
over from a Cazorla free-kick in the 76th
minute, while Ramsey, Huddlestone and
Fryatt all saw late efforts well handled by
their respective opposition goalkeepers.
© Sapa - AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment