Hull City v Arsenal: Tigers will '˜give it a good shot' in replay, says David Meyler

DAVID MEYLER has called on Hull City to pile on the misery for under-fire Arsenal in tonight's FA Cup replay at KC Stadium.
Hull Citys David Meyler, seen reacting to a missed chance in the original FA Cup tie against Arsenal, insists in the replay its 11 shirts against 11 shirts, so why cant we beat them? (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA).Hull Citys David Meyler, seen reacting to a missed chance in the original FA Cup tie against Arsenal, insists in the replay its 11 shirts against 11 shirts, so why cant we beat them? (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA).
Hull Citys David Meyler, seen reacting to a missed chance in the original FA Cup tie against Arsenal, insists in the replay its 11 shirts against 11 shirts, so why cant we beat them? (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA).

The holders head to East Yorkshire on the back of a barrage of criticism following a five-match winless streak that has jeopardised their hopes of ending their 12-year wait for the Premier League title – and only a staggering second-leg result in Barcelona will continue their participation in the Champions League.

The poor sequence has also significantly intensified the scrutiny that Arsene Wenger finds himself under in his 20th year as Gunners manager.

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The knives will be significantly sharpened for Wenger if the London club bow out of the Cup this evening with the competition currently representing their best chance of silverware this term.

The competition may lie a distinct second to Hull’s overwhelming priority of clinching promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking in 2015-16.

But Meyler sees no reason why the club cannot push on two fronts due to their considerable depth of squad resources, which are the envy of the vast bulk of their Championship rivals.

The Irish midfielder, who was not involved in Thursday night’s league loss at Birmingham City, is likely to be one of a host of changes made by Bruce, with the likes of Shaun Maloney, Nick Powell, Harry Maguire and Ahmed Elmohamady also pushing for starts.

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Meyler also feels that being afforded home advantage against Watford in the quarter-finals if they find a way past the Gunners is also a major incentive this evening for the Tigers – mindful that a win would put them within one more victory of booking a third appearance at Wembley in under two years.

The 26-year-old, part of a much-changed Tigers side who dug in to secure a commendable draw at the Emirates Stadium on February 20, said: “We’ve got to give it a good shot.

“If we can beat Arsenal, we can look forward to a home draw in the next round. Anything is possible. We’ve pushed some big teams at home this season and in our two seasons in the Premier League.

“Arsenal have had some defeats recently, so we’re hoping we can add to the misery.

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“Why can’t we beat them? It’s 11 shirts against 11 shirts. If we go out and show the hunger and desire we’re capable of, then I don’t see why we can’t beat them.”

Adamant that a Cup run is not being seen as an unwanted distraction for Hull against the main business of promotion, Meyler –one of the survivors from Hull’s magnificent run to the Cup final in 2013-14, when they lost out at Wembley to tonight’s opponents – added: “For a team like Hull City it’s fantastic still to be in the FA Cup.

“You saw the success we had a couple of years ago. I say success; we lost in the final, but you saw what it did to the area. Thousands of fans travelling down to Wembley, it was fantastic.”

Meanwhile, Wenger has a firm ally in the opposing dug-out tonight in Steve Bruce, who believes that those who are calling for the 66-year-old to be sacked are showing a lack of respect to the managerial grandee who has become an institution in English football since joining Arsenal in September 1996.

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While the Tigers’ manager’s admiration of the job done by the Frenchman is self-evident, he would not be averse to adding to his worries either.

Bruce said: “We’ve got to get past Arsenal, which will be very difficult, but we’ve shown over the last couple of years that we can make a fist of it against them.

“Just because I’m making changes, it doesn’t mean I don’t want to get through.

“I remember the last minute of the first game I was praying (Alexis) Sanchez didn’t score because it would have been cruel on us.

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“I need my goalkeeper to play well again, and have a bit more of a threat coming forward, but we’re a very decent side. We showed that when we played Swansea and Leicester here in the League Cup. Let’s try our best.”

Bruce is aware that progress would further complicate Hull’s Championship itinerary with his side likely to have to play eight times in the league and cup next month if they go through.

The 55-year-old says that his big gripe is the looming sight of an international break later this month for a host of pre-Euro 2016 friendlies – which is something that rankles with him.

He added: “If we got through, for example, we’d have another game to rearrange. That could mean that at some point we might have to play four games in a week.

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“When you’re trying to go for promotions, that’s not right. Some teams will have five or six days’ recovery and you’ve got two; that’s an advantage for the other teams.

“I don’t want to keep bleating on about it because it feels like I’m a stuck record, but do we really need an international break at this stage of the season for friendlies? That’s beyond me.”

Kick off tonight is at 7pm.

Last six games: Hull WDDWDL, Arsenal WDLLLD.

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Last time: Hull 1 Arsenal 3; May 4, 2015; Premier League.