Arsenal run into new injury crisis after win over Hull
Four goals and four injuries as Wenger gets testy about his Arsenal legacy
Hull City 0 Arsenal 4
A pair of goals each from Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott eased Arsenal into the quarter-final of the FA Cup, but the win came at a price. Manager Arsene Wenger admitted afterwards he was "shocked" by the number of injuries picked up by his players ahead of the last-eight clash at home to Watford on Sunday.
Aaron Ramsey (thigh injury), Gabriel (hamstring) and Per Mertesacker (head wound) all withdrew from the fray while Nacho Monreal was also hobbling by the end of the night.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The injuries to Gabriel and Mertesacker will worry Wenger most, what with fellow centre-back Laurent Koscielny already sidelined with a calf problem. But according to the Gunners boss the pair have a good chance of making the squad for Sunday.
Ramsey's prognosis is not so good, with the Welshman requiring a medical today to determine the extent of his muscular thigh injury.
The win will relieve some of the pressure on Wenger's shoulders, as it will Giroud's, who scored his first goals for the club in 12 games. The French striker celebrated his first – a gift provided by a wayward backpass from Hull's David Meyler – by simulating the rocking of a cradle, and he later revealed why.
"My wife has given birth yesterday but I wanted to play this game and I'm very happy for the team we did a great performance," explained Giroud, who has named his son Evan. "I made sure they're very well before leaving and I'm pleased to be back on the scoresheet. It's been a long time I've not scored."
Giroud's goal, four minutes before half-time, broke the deadlock between the two sides left over from the goalless first tie ten days ago at the Emirates. Three more goals followed in the second-half, the first from Giroud and then a double from Theo Walcott, who had also experienced something of a goal drought prior to the replay.
But his first goals in five games ensured there was no upset against the Championship side, and keeps Arsenal on course for an historic third consecutive FA Cup title, a feat that hasn't been achieved since Blackburn Rovers won three in a row in the 1880s, an era when the competition was a minor event.
"In the first half we needed patience because they played very deep, similar to when we played at Emirates Stadium," said Wenger. "The patience was important and to keep the ball moving and to get them tired and find the opening without being exposed to counter attacks."
Yet despite the victory there were more questions in the post-match conference about his future, questions that brought a swift retort from a clearly irritated Frenchman. "Can you name me one person who has won it [the FA Cup] more than me?" he snapped. "This club has been in a much better state since I have been here."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Pros and cons of VAR in football
Pros and Cons String of mistakes has put new technology under the microscope
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Can Arsenal really win the Premier League title?
feature How the pundits reacted after the Gunners’ late 3-2 victory over Man Utd
By Mike Starling Published
-
2022 FA Cup final: Chelsea vs. Liverpool preview, predictions, kick-off time and TV coverage
feature Premier League rivals go head-to-head in another Wembley final
By Mike Starling Published
-
Tottenham vs. Arsenal predictions: race for the Premier League top four
feature Expect a ‘seismic’ north London derby with Champions League qualification on the line
By Mike Starling Published
-
Should the FA Cup semi-finals be moved from Wembley?
feature Man City and Liverpool fans face travel chaos on semi-final weekend
By Mike Starling Published
-
Giant killings and classic ‘cupsets’: who said the magic of the FA Cup was dead?
feature National League side Boreham Wood are through to the fifth round after a stunning win at Bournemouth
By Mike Starling Published