Arsenal overcome Hull after second-half pressure

Arsenal were unable to test Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis before a video review interrupted the first half. In the 43rd minute, referee Farai Hallam checked a shirt tug on Kai Havertz inside Hull’s penalty area. Hallam announced that a holding foul had taken place, but ruled Havertz offside, so no penalty was awarded.

The review came amid debate over a similar shirt-pulling incident involving Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak the previous weekend. In that case, Timber was not punished. The two incidents differed in that Havertz went to ground, while Isak did not; the report also noted that Havertz was unlikely to have reached the ball, which had been deflected away.

Arsenal were more effective after the break, while Hull appeared to tire as the match wore on. Noni Madueke kept pushing forward despite some wayward attempts, and his effort towards the near post led to the decisive goal.

Tzolakis could not keep Madueke’s shot out of danger, allowing Odegaard to score from the rebound. Arsenal’s display was not described as fluent or chance-filled, but their pressure eventually broke through Hull’s defence. The penalty review did not decide the result: Arsenal secured the win through their second-half goal.