Arsene Wenger will have Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta fit and firing for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League trip to Anderlecht, with Theo Walcott not far behind.
But on this evidence it is the defensive cavalry that Arsenal need more desperately. The Gunners had 25 shots on goal against Hull and dominated for all but two moments — when Hull breached their makeshift back-line to earn a point.
‘The way we concede goals is too easy,’ Wenger said. ‘You can’t afford this kind of mistake. Where we were guilty is to give two goals away from nothing.’
Wenger had a point. Mohamed Diame muscled his way past three defenders to score Hull’s equaliser after Alexis Sanchez had given Arsenal a 13th-minute lead and Abel Hernandez rose above Per Mertesacker to head City in front after the break.
Aside from that, Hull barely crossed the halfway line, retreating further back until Danny Welbeck rescued a point for Arsenal in stoppage-time.
Shorn of the injured Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy, and the suspended Calum Chambers, Arsenal fielded 19-year-old Hector Bellerin on the right and left back Nacho Monreal alongside Mertesacker in the middle.
Wenger needs defensive reinforcements and January cannot come too soon. Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk and Hull’s Andrew Robertson are two possible targets, though Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels would be ideal. They are also chasing Dinamo Zagreb’s Marcelo Brozovic, a midfielder.
The contrast between now and a year ago is apparent. Arsenal have conceded 11 league goals — just two more than at this stage last season — but those 11 have been more evenly spread. Five of their eight matches have been draws. Twelve months ago, they were top of the table with six wins in eight matches.
Chelsea and Manchester City are disappearing over the horizon despite Arsenal’s £77million summer spending spree.
‘I don’t look at Chelsea,’ said Wenger. ‘I look at our performance. It’s a shame we didn’t win. There is a lot of quality in the side. Let’s focus on to going to Anderlecht and winning the game.’
Realistically, the title is already gone and the Champions League might not provide much comfort. Ramsey played half an hour on Saturday and Arteta was on the bench, so both may be available. Walcott played 45 minutes for the Under 21s on Friday after nine months out but the Belgian trip could come too soon.
Wenger insisted Arsenal had progressed in recent years, but it is Hull who are making the real strides. Manager Steve Bruce, later spotted on the Piccadilly line heading to Euston and then Manchester for Sam Allardyce’s 60th birthday bash, was satisfied despite Welbeck’s late equaliser.
‘I’m pleased. It’s been a remarkable couple of years,’ he said. ‘For goodness sake, we’re disappointed that we didn’t win at the Emirates. That wouldn’t have been possible two years ago.’
SUPER STAT: In the Premier League this season, Mohamed Diame has had four shots on target and scored four goals.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 6; Bellerin 6.5, Mertesacker 6, Monreal 6.5, Gibbs 6.5; Flamini 6 (Ramsey 62min, 7), Wilshere 7 (Campbell 68, 6.5); Oxlade-Chamberlain 5.5, Cazorla 6.5, Sanchez 7.5; Welbeck 6. Subs not used: Rosicky, Arteta, Martinez, Coquelin, Ajayi. Booked: Cazorla, Wilshere. Scorers: Sanchez 13, Welbeck 90.
Hull City (3-5-2): Harper 7 (Jakupovic 42, 7); Chester 6, Davies 6.5, Dawson 8 (Bruce 84); Elmohamady 6.5, Huddlestone 7, Livermore 6.5, Diame 7.5, Robertson 6; Ben Arfa 6, Hernandez 7 (Ramirez 62, 6). Subs not used: Rosenior, Brady, Quinn. Booked: Chester, Huddlestone. Scorers: Diame 17, Hernandez 46.
Man of the match: Michael Dawson. – Daily Mail