Arsene Wenger must be wondering when his injury problems will come to an end with captain Cesc Fabregas the latest high-profile Arsenal star to be sidelined. Van Persie and Bendtner are still out while Hull boss Phil Brown will look for a collector’s item as his team bid for their first away victory in the Premier League in 23 games.

Quick Check

Arsenal

  • Denilson is hoping to return to the midfield after a back problem.
  • Arsenal have taken 18 points out of 21 at the Emirates Stadium this season.
  • Captain Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out by a hamstring problem.
  • Striker Robin van Persie is out for up to five months after ankle surgery.
  • Midfielder Tomas Rosicky is out for another three weeks with groin trouble.
  • Left backs Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs are sidelined by long-term back and foot injuries.
  • Nicklas Bendtner is out until the new year with a long-term groin problem.
  • The Gunners failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their meetings against Hull last season.

Hull City

  • Midfielder Seyi Olofinjana is hopeful of finally overcoming a hamstring injury.
  • Hull won 2-1 at Arsenal last season.
  • Phil Brown’s side have lost just once in their last six fixtures.
  • Hull have taken just two points from eight away games this term.
  • Key midfielder Jimmy Bullard will be out for up to eight weeks with a knee injury.
  • Hull have not won any of their last 22 fixtures on the road.
  • The Tigers’ clean sheet against Blackburn last weekend was only their second in 16 games.
  • Brown’s team has won only five of their last 37 league matches.

Expert Advice

Only Chelsea have managed to stop Arsenal’s brand of free-flowing football at the Emirates Stadium this season and it’s difficult to see anything but a home win here. The Gunners may be without a number of big-name players but their replacements still look likely to have too much pace and movement for a Hull side desperately short on confidence on the road. The Tigers won the corresponding fixture last season but they were in a different frame of mind then and even their improved performances over the last month are unlikely to make a difference here. The visitors may score but Arsenal appear to have too much going forward and Betsson’s odds of 1.47 for a home win by two goals looks a sound bet.

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