Hull 0-3 Arsenal: Lukas Podolski bags a brace to hand Gunners easy victory against FA Cup final opponents

Written By JAK on Sunday, April 20, 2014 | 7:27 PM

Arsenal kept their top-four challenge on track with a routine 3-0 win over upcoming FA Cup final opponents Hull at the KC Stadium.

Lukas Podolski scored either side of half-time after Aaron Ramsey's classy opener to ensure Arsenal would remain ahead of Everton regardless of the Toffees' result against Manchester United.

Hull contributed well in the first half but Podolski's second goal soon after the break knocked the stuffing out of them, and they will need to improve before the sides meet again next month.

Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil returned to the Arsenal line-up for the first time since March 11 after passing a fitness test on his hamstring, while Hull strikers Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic were recalled having been cup-tied against Sheffield United.

Strike: Lukas Podolski celebrates scoring Arsenal's second goal of the game against Hull

Good game: Podolski (centre) celebrates with team-mates Olivier Giroud (left) and Aaron Ramsey

Power: Hull goalkeeper Stephen Harper can only watch as Podolski's shot hits the back of the net

Finish: Aaron Ramsey (right) puts Arsenal into a 1-0 lead at the KC Stadium

Match facts

Hull: Harper - 6.5, Elmohamady - 5.5, Chester - 6, Davies - 6, Rosenior - 6.5, Meyler - 5.5, Huddlestone - 6, Livermore - 6, Boyd - 5 (Koren 84' - 6), Jelavic - 6 (Quinn 70' - 6), Long - 4 (Fryatt 45' - 6.5).

Subs not used: Figueroa, Bruce, Jakupovic, Sagbo.

Booked: Meyler

Arsenal: Szczesny - 6.5, Sagna - 6, Mertesacker - 6, Koscielny - 6, Monreal - 5, Ramsey - 8.5, Arteta - 7.5, Cazorla - 8, Ozil (Flamini 60' - 6), Podolski - 8 (Sanogo 84' 6), Giroud - 7 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 73' - 6).

Subs not used: Rosicky, Fabianski, Jenkinson, Kallstrom.

Booked: Mertesacker

Goals: Ramsey 31', Podolski 45' & 53'

Referee: Jon Moss

Att: 24,762

*Player ratings by JOHN EDWARDS at the KC Stadium

The match was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of former City full-back Andy 'Jock' Davidson, whose 579 appearances represent a club record.

Visiting keeper Wojciech Szczesny then foiled Hull captain Curtis Davies from an early corner.

Play was bizarrely interrupted in the early stages when a section of pitchside advertising hoardings blew over, littering the pitch but fortunately without injury to any of the players.

Szczesny gathered Ahmed Elmohamady's deflected cross and was also out quickly to beat Long to a dangerous through-ball.

Ozil was denied a penalty when he tumbled over Elmohamady's challenge, with replays indicating some contact.

Jelavic's sharp shot on the turn then drew an impressive low save from Szczesny but Long took too long to line up his shot from Jake Livermore's sumptuous through-ball, firing high and wide.

In between, Steve Harper beat away a decent strike from Podolski's weaker right foot.

Elmohamady broke up a promising Gunners attack by poking the ball away from Podolski - but the visitors took the lead in the 31st minute.

A slick passing move ended with Ozil and Cazorla playing in Ramsey, who had been involved early in the move back at halfway, to fire low inside Harper's far post.

In the lead: Ramsey celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game between Hull and Arsenal

Easy street: Ramsey scored in the 34th minute to hand the Gunners a first half lead

The tooth hurts! Arsenal's Mikel Arteta lost a tooth after a collision with Hull striker Shane Long

Painful: Arteta played on despite losing one of his front teeth during the

An Arsenal win, perversely, could help Hull's Europa League claims - a top-four finish for the Gunners would see the cup-winner's place revert to Hull no matter the result on May 17.

But on-loan Spurs man Livermore was in no mood to settle for the status quo, and sent a low drive against the inside of a post with Szczesny hopelessly beaten.

Long failed to make a meaningful contact with Liam Rosenior's cross and was punished by a second Arsenal goal on the stroke of half-time.

Hull were incensed as Jelavic was not awarded a free-kick after Arteta's challenge - a borderline call - and when Arsenal countered quickly, Ramsey chested Giroud's cross down to Podolski who rifled home.

Cup hero Matty Fryatt replaced Long at half-time but could not get the better of Sagna and Szczesny from his first opportunity.

He's back: Mesut Ozil (left) holds off Jake Livermore during the Premier League match

Controversy: Hull players talk to match referee Jonathan Moss following Arsenal's second goal

Game over: Hull boss Steve Bruce kicks over a water bottle in frustration as his side go 3-0 down

Winners: Podolski celebrates scoring the third goal of the game with Giroud (left) and Bacary Sagna

Aaron Ramsey started the move which ended up with the Welshman slotting home - Click here to find out more from out brilliant Match Zone service

Movement: Ramsey started and finished the move for Arsenal's first goal

Brace: Podolski (fourth left) shoots past Harper to score his second of the game

Skills: Ramsey looks to lift the ball over Hull midfielder Tom Huddlestone (right)

Nine minutes into the second half, Podolski make it three. Harper saved well with his foot from Ramsey's initial effort but could only present the German with a simple finish.

Jelavic's shot was deflected away for a corner, and from it the Croatian's header forced another, but Hull could not find the cutting edge.

Harper had a real let-off when he misread Rosenior's back-pass and hacked the ball against Giroud. The France striker chased down the loose ball but hit the bar from an acute angle.

Rosenior's cross eluded substitute Stephen Quinn, newly on for Jelavic, and at the other end Per Mertesacker almost diverted Cazorla's poor free-kick on goal.

Stuck in the middle: Olivier Giroud (centre) is challenged by Liam Rosenior (left) and Curtis Davies (right)

Aerial battle: Laurent Koscielny (left) and Nikicia Jelavic challenge for the ball in the first half

Windy: Players help clear advertising hoardings which had blown onto the pitch during the Premier League clash

Harper saved well from Ramsey before an increasingly rare Hull threat saw Huddlestone's shot tipped over by an unsighted Szczesny.

The 2,000 visiting fans in the crowd of 24,762 made their own entertainment by chanting the name of beleaguered Tottenham boss, and boyhood Arsenal fan, Tim Sherwood.

Fryatt stung Szczesny's palms from range but the match fizzled out in the closing stages, with Arsenal content with their winning margin.

Odd: Curtis Davies looks bemused as he drags two of the advertisements away from the field