Hull City tactics
Steve Bruce retained the starting XI that defeated Liverpool last time out so the Tigers started in a 3-5-2 formation.
In his pre-match interview, the City boss highlighted the need for his side to minimise the space between the lines when Arsenal’s “clever players” had the ball. That meant defending with a compact defensive unit.
Dame N’Doye and Sone Aluko led the pressing from the centre circle while wing-backs Ahmed Elmohamady and Robbie Brady dropped deep to defend virtually as full-backs. With Elmohamady and Brady dealing with the threats from wide areas, the central defenders converged centrally to shut the channels and deny Arsenal space.
In midfield, Tom Huddlestone defended just in front of third centre-back Michael Dawson to limit the space between the defensive and midfield line. Jake Livermore and Stephen Quinn tracked Arsenal’s advanced central midfielders from the sides of Huddlestone.
When in possession, City had the option to counter-attack quickly since Arsenal keep a high defensive line when going forward. Aluko and N’Doye peeled off the shoulders of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny to get on the end of balls played in behind.
With sustained possession in Arsenal’s half, the wing-backs could push into the final-third looking to receive the ball and whip in good crosses. Livermore and Quinn made late runs into the box to support N’Doye and Aluko in attacking those crosses.
Arsenal tactics
Arsene Wenger named the same starting XI for a fourth consecutive game. The slight change involved the attacking midfielders, who were detailed to frequently make runs beyond Olivier Giroud.
That meant another 4-2-3-1 formation with Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin as full-backs supplying width by charging into the offensive half during attacks. Francis Coquelin sat as the holding midfielder, which allowed Santi Cazorla to join the attacking midfielders.
Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez started as the wide attacking midfielders looking to influence the game by drifting inside from the flanks to join Mesut Ozil. Sanchez also provided the option of carrying the ball and skipping past opponents from the left flank.
Giroud completed the offensive formation as the centre forward providing a target for crosses. The Frenchman also made runs sideways from the centre forward position to dislodge Hull’s back-three.
When out of possession, Giroud led the pressing while Sanchez and Ramsey pressed from the sides of midfield. In central midfield, Ozil defended from the top of a central midfield triangle that included Cazorla and Coquelin.
The full-backs completed the defensive formation by dropping back to the defensive line.
Key tactical changes
Hull succeeded in limiting the space between the lines but they were undone by a combination of brilliant off-the-ball movement of Arsenal’s front-four and accurate incisive passes from Arsenal’s deeper players.
Giroud kept dragging Dawson away from Hull’s defensive line, which left gaps in the Tigers’ back-three. Arsenal’s attacking midfielders efficiently exploited those gaps and were rewarded with a couple of chances on goal. That was the source of Arsenal’s last two goals and could have led to more.
The Gunners were flat at the start of the second-half so the Tigers got a consolation. Brady and Elmohamady looked the most likely sources of Hull’s goals with the quality of their deliveries so Bruce turned to a 4-5-1 formation which allowed that pair to operate in more advanced positions.
Hull consequently had a brief spell of dominance and belief that they would get back into the game. That was before Jack Wilshere came on with the enthusiasm that helped the Gunners regain control of the middle-third.
Even Nikica Jelavic’s late introduction up top, with N’Doye coming in from the left flank, could not help the Tigers as Arsenal comfortably saw of the game out by retaining the ball.
