We made it five straight wins in the league to move six points clear at the top of the table, with a narrow victory over Hull City at Emirates Stadium.

We had been made to work hard all afternoon by our visitors, but Martin Odegaard was in the right place at the right time to end their resistance in the final 20 minutes. The captain was on hand to gobble up the rebound from Noni Madueke’s spilt shot.

The main talking point of a goalless first half was when Kai Havertz seemed to have been awarded a penalty after a VAR invention, only for it not to be awarded anyway due to the German being offside.

After that it was down to our perseverance and patience to get the job done with another clean sheet – our seventh in the Premier League.

EVEN START

Our visitors showed in the opening ten minutes that they hadn’t arrived at Emirates Stadium purely to defend. In fact they had the first goal attempt of the afternoon - John Egan headed just wide at the far post from a deep corner after just two minutes. A few moments later, a looping headed effort from former Arsenal academy player Semi Ajayi was easily gathered by David Raya.

Our best early chance was also a header. Ezri Konsa rose highest to meet an inswinging cross, but it flicked off him and just wide as defensive partner Gabriel tried to slide in to meet it at the far post.

RICE GOES CLOSE

Neither side was taking many risks going forward, but it was Raya who was called into action first. Elliot Stroud found space to burst into the box, and his low shot was palmed away by the keeper. Riccardo Calafiori was there to block the follow up.

Declan Rice volleyed wide from outside the area when the ball sat up invitingly for the midfielder, but half an hour in, we had still yet to test Konstantinos Tzolakis in the Hull net.

Rice and Tzolis did eventually warm the Greek’s gloves. The first from a laid off free-kick, the latter from a header – but both were comfortable saves in truth.

Kai Havertz should have worked the keeper as we approached half-time, but he couldn’t quite get Odegaard’s throughball under control to ger his shot away.

VAR CONTROVERSY

There was a moment of confusion late in the half, when we had a penalty appeal turned down.

Havertz was having his shirt tugged inside the area, and although it was missed in real time by the referee, play was stopped a minute or so later for a VAR review.

Referee Farai Hallam went to the monitor, and agreed there had been a foul on Havertz, however the spot kick wasn’t given as the German was in an offside position anyway.

Rice then had a good header well saved as we went in at half-time goalless.

ODEGAARD ON THE SPOT

We looked to step up the intensity in the second half. Bruno Guimaraes had a shot charged down before Lewie Coyle cut out a diagonal Rice pass when we threatened to outnumber Hull on the counter.

Our best move of the game led to a chance for Madueke in the area, but his low shot was parried by Tzolakis.

Mikel Arteta turned to his bench. On came Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie.

The game started to become stretched, and the challenges were flying in as we entered the final 25 minutes still searching for the breakthrough.

It finally came, when Odegaard pounced from close range. Madueke had done superbly in the area before unleashing his shot towards the near post. It was too hot for Tzolakis to handle, and there was the skipper to nip in and poke the ball home.

There was still work to be done. Hull had two men up front and there was no let up at all in their work rate.

Madueke nearly doubled our lead though, latching onto an excellent Merino flick, he attempted to round the keeper, but was denied by an outstretched boot. The ball cannoned back off Madueke towards goal, but was cleared off the line.

We’d done enough. 1-0 to The Arsenal again, and our 100 per cent home record in tact.

WHAT’S NEXT

The majority of the squad will join up with their national teams for the next few days, before we return to Premier League action away to Newcastle United on Saturday, November 21. Our next game here at