It wasn’t pretty, but Arsenal have never needed pretty. Hull City parked a stubborn back five and frustrated them for 72 minutes, a first-half penalty shout was waved away after a lengthy VAR check, and the home end was getting restless. Then Martin Ødegaard did what captains do – pouncing on a rebound after Noni Madueke’s shot was spilled – to make it 1–0. Five league wins on the bounce, 27 points from the first ten games, and the defence has now kept seven league clean sheets.
The real cheer came later on Saturday. Manchester City, who won their first seven league games of the season, went to the City Ground and were turned over 3–1 by Nottingham Forest. Jair Cunha nicked the ball off Joško Gvardiol and ran through to score after six minutes, Liam Delap lashed in a second, and although Rayan Cherki’s rocket pulled one back early in the second half, Delap struck again on the break. Three league defeats in a row for Enzo Maresca’s side.
So Arsenal head into the break six points clear, with Manchester City third and the two meeting at the Emirates when the league resumes. Flasks at the ready – that one’s going to be loud.
