Gunners take revenge on Hull

Late goals from Samir Nasri and substitute Nicklas Bendtner kept Arsenal’s recent revival going with a 3-1 win over Hull here on Saturday.

Daniel Cousin looked to have denied Arsenal victory with an equaliser on 65 minutes to cancel out Emmanuel Adebayor’s opening goal before half time.

But Wenger’s men came good at the death with two goals in the final eight minutes to increase the gloom for fast-sliding Hull.

Adebayor, who has been strongly linked with a move to AC Milan or Barcelona in the transfer window, had notched his 12th goal of the season in the 30th minute with a clinical header.

The latest defeat for Hull has left supporters wondering where their side’s next win is coming from.

Phil Brown’s men appear to be in terminal decline following just one victory in their last 13 games and they now look increasingly like they could be heading for a relegation battle.

Brown made six changes from the side that beat Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round in midweek, the most notable being a debut to new signing Kevin Kilbane following his arrival from Wigan.

Manchester United striker Manucho had to settle for a place on the bench after joining on-loan until the end of the season.

Opposite number Wenger named an unchanged side, resisting the temptation to promote Bendtner despite his winning goal against Bolton last weekend.

The Gunners were still without William Gallas and Cesc Fabregas, yet remained determined to gain revenge for their humbling at the hands of the same opponents at the Emirates back in September, one of the lowest moments of Wenger’s time in charge.

It was Hull who made the brightest start, however. Geovanni’s corner flashed across Manuel Almunia’s goal in the first minute before Nathan Doyle shot straight at the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Geovanni almost caught Almunia unawares with a curling free kick in the 19th minute but when Wenger’s side began to get a grip on proceedings the signs looked ominous for Hull.

Robin Van Persie’s deflected free kick shaved the Hull upright before the Dutchman went even closer in the 28th minute, demanding a world class save from Boaz Myhill with a blistering free kick which the Hull goalkeeper somehow managed to tip onto the crossbar.

Two minutes later the breakthrough eventually came when Adebayor rose high above Michael Turner to head Van Persie’s corner back across goal and into the open net.

His 12th goal of the season was harsh on the home team yet rewarded Arsenal’s growing dominance of a game they simply had to win to keep on the coat-tails of those above them.

That didn’t look likely when Cousin levelled matters with 25 minutes remaining.

But Wenger’s men found an extra gear when they needed one most.

First Nasri collected a pass from Van Persie in the inside left channel and beat Myhill with a superb left-foot finish into the opposite corner.

Then substitute Bendtner combined with the Dutchman before finishing from close range to kill the contest and ensure Arsenal remain three points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa.