Hull City kicks them up the Arsenal

Hull City kicks them up the Arsenal



Arsenal relinquished top spot in the Premier League as Hull came from behind to pull off a sensational 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.

A Paul McShane own goal, five minutes after the break, gave the hosts the lead but Geovanni equalised 12 minutes later with a stunning strike before Daniel Cousin headed home the winner after 66 minutes.

Arsene Wenger celebrates 12 years at the helm on Sunday but had little to cheer as a late William Gallas header hit the crossbar and his side slumped to their first home League defeat since West Ham won at Ashburton Grove in April 2007.

The Gunners were rather mooted for much of the first-half and broke the deadlock in scrappy fashion.

Theo Walcott's pull back was deflected by Emmanuel Adebayor and the ball came off the shin of McShane and into the net.

Adebayor should really have made it two within as many minutes but he scooped his effort over the top and that proved costly as Brazilian Geovanni unleashed a fierce 25-yard diagonal shot past a helpless Manuel Almunia.

And the newly promoted side were ahead as Arsenal conceded their third goal from a corner this season.

Cousin nipped in ahead of French compatriot Gallas and flicked a superb header into the top corner.

Arsenal then had a hatful of chances to level with Myhill twice turning away long-range strikes from Fabregas and Van Persie failing to hit the target on a number of occasions.

Gallas almost made amends for his earlier lapse by planting a header against the woodwork six minutes from time with sub Carlos Vela unable to react to the rebound.

And Kolo Toure had a great chance in injury-time to salvage a point when he found himself in acres of space at the back post from the corner but he shanked his shot horribly wide as the Gunners suffered just their second defeat at the Emirates.

The first-half gave little indication of the excitement to come although Adebayor did have a goal disallowed after he headed home powerfully at the far post only to be adjudged to have pushed McShane.

Walcott was denied when Andy Dawson made a great tackle just as the teenager was about to pull the trigger following a lightning counter-attack and later found himself unmarked eight yards out but a heavy first touch saw the ball harmlessly run through to Myhill.

Emmanuel Eboue was guilty of over elaborating when he opted to pass to Van Persie inside the penalty goal when offered a clear sight at goal just before half-time and their wastefulness was a key factor in Hull's first victory over Arsenal since 1915.
Lee Walker / Eurosport

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