The Tigers have had an encouraging start to life in the top flight with last Sunday's 2-2 draw at home to Everton taking their points tally to eight from five games.

There is little doubt, however, that today's visit to Arsenal represents by far their stiffest test since winning promotion via the play-offs with Arsene Wenger's men having suffered just one league defeat on home turf since leaving the marble halls of Highbury two summers ago.

Not only that, the Gunners have won an impressive 28 of their 40 top-flight games at the Emirates and go into this weekend sitting proudly on top of the Premier League.

Despite that, Boateng – whose two visits with Middlesbrough ended in 1-1 draws – believes Hull should not be daunted by the prospect of taking on Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor et al.

He said: "It is a very interesting match. I know not many people will fancy Hull City going to Arsenal and will think we have nothing to lose.

"But I feel we have everything to lose. Pride can sometimes be worth a lot more than three points.

"It will be difficult, but we are not playing an Arsenal side who are invincible. They have already lost to Fulham this season, and we beat Fulham. The message is that the best team on the day will win and we have to remember that.

"I went to Arsenal last season with Middlesbrough and no one fancied Middlesbrough. But the game finished a draw and they only scored the equaliser in the 92nd minute from a set-piece. That was painful."

Asked what the key has been for Boro at the Emirates, Boateng added: "There are two things. You have to go there and play football, which they will allow you to do. Their best defence is the way they attack.

"They like to press forward and only attack, Fabregas does not want to track any midfielder going beyond him.

"That is where you have to turn it round and make them defend. If you do that, hopefully you can get a goal.

"The second thing a team has to do is be prepared to work extremely hard. You have to be willing to cover all the pitch and close all the doors they will be trying to get through."

Asked how the Hull players should approach what, to several of the squad, will be their first visit to the 60,000 capacity Emirates, the Dutch-born midfielder said: "It is important not to go there as a spectator. If you go there to look at a nice stadium, then you will feel daunted. You cannot go there to enjoy the day.

"I never look higher than the goal. The rest is there, but I do not notice it. The pitch is massive and you must concentrate on the game. If you do that, you will be okay."

Boateng is in his 11th season in English football and last week chalked up his 301st Premier League appearance when coming off the bench to shore up the Hull midfield after Everton had hit back from 2-0 down to level the scores.

It means the 32-year-old, who is likely to be restored to the starting line-up today after fully recovering from a thigh injury, can assess this season's Arsenal side compared to those that have won three league titles and four FA Cups under Wenger.

He said: "This team is a lot younger than others under Wenger. They find it easier to adapt to changing things and they do things by intuition. But what I notice is they can be beaten. The team of a few years ago, it did not matter if they were 2-0 down or 3-0 down they would still come back and beat you.

"I was once at Middlesbrough when we were 3-1 up at half-time but lost 5-3. It was a team with Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Freddie Ljungberg.

"They were invincible and you could not stop them. But this is not that team. If a team is willing to work hard and close them down, then they can beat Arsenal.

"It is because of that I believe Hull City go with a chance of getting something out of the game."