Hull 0 Arsenal 3
Arsenal maintained control of their Champions League destiny with a clinical victory over Hull City. Lukas Podolski scored either side of half-time after Aaron Ramsey got his 16th goal of the season to keep Arsene Wenger's men in the top four ahead of Everton. Hull were by no means outclassed but were guilty of failing to take their chances early in the contest.
Steve Bruce will pray his side are sharper in front of goal when the teams meet again in the FA Cup final on May 17th.
Arsenal weathered an early flurry from Hull and a bizarre early distraction as pitch-side advertising hoardings blew on to the field. The hosts were quickest to regain their focus and should have taken the lead.
Wojciech Szczesny was called into action to push Nikica Jelavic's low shot around the post after Tom Huddlestone's disguised free-kick.
Steve Harper pushed away Podolski's drive from 18 yards after Ramsey led an Arsenal counter-attack but Hull were soon back in the ascendency and should have taken the lead through Shane Long.
The Irishman latched on to another excellent pass from Jake Livermore but fired his shot over the crossbar from a difficult angle.
It seemed like the kind of opportunity Hull had to take to have any chance of upsetting the odds and Arsenal punished them ruthlessly with the opener.
Ramsey started the move in his own half before making his way forward while Mesut Özil, back in the team after a seven-match absence, and Santi Cazorla weaved their magic.
The ball arrived back with Ramsey on the edge of the Hull area and the Welshman fired the ball low beyond Harper for his 16th goal of the season.
Hull responded brightly and Livermore came close to an equaliser but saw his low shot from 20 yards come back off the inside of the post after David Meyler’s square pass, before Arsenal doubled their lead before half-time with another goal of high quality.
Hull were still complaining about a perceived foul on Jelavic by Mikel Arteta as Olivier Giroud made progress down the right and crossed for Ramsey whose chest control was met perfectly by Podolski on the volley.
Ramsey was involved again as Arsenal put themselves out of sight nine minutes after the break.
Cazorla got in behind Ahmed Elmohamady and crossed from the left for Ramsey. Harper stuck out a foot to block the midfielder’s first-time shot but Podolski was on hand to score the rebound.
Giroud came close to adding a fourth when Harper dithered in dealing with Liam Rosenior’s backpass. The Frenchman closed the goalkeeper down but could only lash his instinctive shot against the bar.
(Guardian Service)
