season in place of Olivier Giroud, headed in Carl
Jenkinson's right wing cross after just two minutes to
put the Gunners in front.
It looked like a prelude for convincing home win but
the Tigers kept things tight for much of the
remainder of the first half.
That all changed within two minutes of the restart
when Mesut Ozil ran onto Aaron Ramsey's neat
reverse pass to slide the ball in from eight yards.
The visitors threatened rarely as the Gunners
cruised through the remainder of the match to
retain their top of the table advantage.
After their blistering start, Arsenal - who had
made several changes from the team which won
at Cardiff, including starting with England trio
Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs on
the bench - continued to push Hull back.
Santi Cazorla's goal-bound shot was blocked and
Allan McGregor then spilled a low effort from Ozil
which Bendtner could not turn in.
The Tigers slowly found some momentum and a
centre from Robbie Brady flew across the face of
the Arsenal goal.
When the Gunners did press the visitors back,
they were guilty of some poor finishing, with the
usually accurate Ramsey smashing an 18-yard
effort high into the Clock End.
The Welshman's radar was, though, locked on
target in the 31st minute, this time a low 20-yard
effort that was set for the bottom-right corner
being pushed away by the Hull keeper at full
stretch.
City defender Maynor Figueroa upended Cazorla
in front of the technical area, but referee Andre
Marriner deemed the hefty sliding challenge fair.
Bendtner turned provider just before the break
when he was played in on the overlap down the right
and clipped the ball back through the six-yard box
where Ozil just could not guide his header goalwards.
The German playmaker was on the scoresheet soon
after the restart. Nacho Monreal kept the ball in on
the left touchline, and gave it to Ozil. His sliderule
pass found Ramsey on the edge of the box, before
the Wales international turned away from goal and
then played an exquisite reverse ball back into the
path of Ozil, who coolly tucked it into the net from 10
yards and Arsenal led 2-0 in the 47th minute.
Brady was then perfectly placed on the post to flick
away a backward header from Bendtner which may
have been dropping into the far corner.
Hull made a double change on 58 minutes. Forward
Danny Graham was replaced by George Boyd and
Brady came off for Liam Rosenior.
Hull striker Yannick Sagbo collided with Arsenal
keeper Wojciech Szczesny as they challenged for a
ball through the six-yard box, but after the Pole had
some brief treatment on his head, play resumed.
Arsenal, who have now started to show really depth
with the return of their injured players, sent Walcott
and Wilshere on for the last 17 minutes, replacing
Bendtner and Tomas Rosicky.
As the clock ran down, Tigers boss Steve Bruce was
involved in a few exchanges with the jubilant Arsenal
fans behind the visitors' bench - most of which were
taken in good spirits by the former Manchester
United defender.
Sent From David Aniemeka
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