Hull vs. Arsenal: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League Fixture

Arsenal scored three goals in the first half and comfortably held on to beat Hull City 3-1 on Monday, as Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey ran all over the Tigers' overmatched defence.

Hull spent most of the match inside their first half as the Gunners dominated possession and deservedly took the lead through a deflected Sanchez free-kick, and when Ramsey made it 2-0 minutes later, the rout appeared to be on. 

Sanchez scored once more before Stephen Quinn pulled one back for Hull, who never looked like completing the comeback.

Before the match, Hull City honoured Belgian defender Gregory Mertens, who died earlier this week after collapsing on the pitch. Sporting Lokeren, Mertens' club, were opponents of the Tigers during Europa League qualification:

Arsenal dominated possession early and worked the ball around the pitch with pace while Hull were content to sit back and let the Gunners come to them. The tactic seemed to work early, as Arsenal's possession didn't lead to any big chances.

Francis Coquelin's own goalkeeper, David Ospina, punched him in the face when Ospina tried to get rid of a dangerous cross. Coquelin's head has been something of a magnet for stray body parts. As Bleacher Report UK shared, the man has proved his toughness this season:

He wasn't the only one suffering early knocks. Olivier Giroud needed some treatment, and Tom Huddlestone completely ran over Ramsey and somehow managed to escape the incident without a booking.

The former Tottenham Hotspur's ability to inflict so much damage in a single move impressed blogger Arseblog:

Huddlestone nearly put the ball past his own 'keeper early in the first half, but fortunately for the 28-year-old, Steve Harper was paying attention and managed to stop the deflection.

Chances were far and few between, and the only time Hull got anywhere near Ospina's goal was when Dame N'Doye tried to lob the stopper from a long way out.

Arsenal didn't push the Tigers hard enough but took the lead thanks to a lucky break. Sanchez's free-kick took a wicked deflection, giving Harper no chance. TV personality Piers Morgan was hardly shocked it was the Chilean who broke the deadlock:

Just minutes later, their lead had doubled, and once again, it took a deflection to get the ball past poor Harper.

Santi Cazorla played in Ramsey with a fantastic pass, per The Daily Telegraph's Henry Winter, and the Wales international's shot hit a defender and looped over the head of the veteran goalkeeper:

The Gunners took their foot off the gas momentarily before launching another wave of attacks late in the first half, and Hull started to implode. A beautiful passing move isolated Sanchez in front of Harper, and the forward easily rounded the stopper before putting the ball away.

That goal would be the final bit of action in an entertaining first half, as Arsenal went into the dressing room with a big lead.

Bleacher Report UK checked in on Hull manager Steve Bruce's mental health:

The pace dropped considerably at the start of the second half, with Arsenal clearly content to defend the lead and Hull powerless to stop them. It took over 10 minutes before the first chance of the half arrived, with Ramsey pushing the ball just wide after great work from Cazorla.

Out of nowhere, the Tigers then pulled one back. Quinn executed his header to perfection, giving Ospina no chance as the ball came off the pitch with real pace.

There was an air of controversy surrounding the goal, however. During the buildup, there was a clear foul on Laurent Koscielny that went unpunished, and the Gunners were fuming at referee Lee Mason. The Times' Tony Barrett wasn't exactly shocked:

Suddenly, Hull were pushing. Paul McShane nearly directed his header just over Ospina's goal and really should have done better. Arsenal responded by throwing bodies forward in search of a fourth goal.

Ramsey and Sanchez both tried their luck, but neither managed to get the ball past Harper. The Welshman then made way for Jack Wilshere, who celebrated his return to the pitch for the first time since November.

Mason once again stole the show when he ignored Premier League protocol and allowed play to continue while David Meyler was down with a head injury. Bleacher Report's Karl Matchett joined the chorus of pundits whom the official's actions no longer surprised:

Incredibly enough, Meyler was allowed to continue despite the severity of his injuries and the likelihood of a concussion. Squawka shared this image of the damage, and you may want to look away if you're squeamish:

Cazorla tested Harper with a tricky shot late in the match before Wilshere unleashed a shot from close range, which came off the arm of James Chester. It unmoved Mason despite strong calls from the Gunners for a penalty. 

The late drama didn't matter much, however, as the Gunners easily held on for the win. Arsenal now have a nine-point gap over Liverpool, and the Reds will have just three matches to bridge that gap. The task is as good as impossible, and the Gunners need just one more point to secure Champions League participation.

It's been a long and sometimes frustrating season at the Emirates, but given the club's recent form, the future looks bright for Arsenal. With one or two key additions during the summer, the Gunners should like their chances of mounting a title challenge next season.

Relevant Match Grades

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Mesut Ozil: A

Ozil has quietly been one of the very best players in the Premier League over the past month or so, and he once again showed why Arsene Wenger's idea to use him as a left-winger made no sense whatsoever on Monday. He took full control of midfield, showed his passing range and was active on the defensive end—a great match.

Aaron Ramsey: A

Ramsey lasted just over an hour but was by far Arsenal's most dangerous player in that span. He combined exceptionally well with Cazorla, who deserves a similar grade for his performance and deservedly got his goal. 

Post-Match Reaction

Wenger told reporters he was shocked at how comfortable the win was for his team, per the club's official Twitter account:

He's also very pleased with the development his team has undergone this season and hopes to keep the right mental qualities in the side moving forward:

As JOE's Nooruddean Choudry reported, Bruce is starting to sound a lot like some other managers:

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