Arsenal 2 Hull City 0: Enforced changes undermine Tigers’ attempt to apply balm to final wounds

From the 20-page ‘look-back’ feature in the programme through to the freshly painted ‘FA Cup – 2014’ on the list of honours that adorn the front wall of the upper tier at the Emirates, Hull City had no chance of escaping the dramatic events of May 17, 2014.

Not that the Tigers needed their memories jogging. It is just 233 days since Steve Bruce’s men raced into a two-goal lead inside nine minutes only to be denied the chance to lift one of football’s most famous trophies by perhaps new Wembley’s most dramatic fightback.

A re-match in the third round was supposed to give the Tigers an opportunity to, if not quite avenge that extra-time final defeat, at least create a more pleasant memory.

However, from the moment Bruce’s starting XI was revealed – and, more pertinently, because of the 10 changes from the team that had beaten Everton in such impressive fashion on New Year’s Day – those hopes always looked forlorn.

Many of the changes were forced. Liam Rosenior, for instance, is expected to be out for three months with a torn hamstring, while Gaston Ramirez (groin) and Andrew Robertson (ankle) are facing between four and six weeks on the sidelines.

James Chester was also out injured and Nikica Jelavic ill. With key players such as Mohamed Diame and Michael Dawson, on the bench yesterday, having not played for weeks, Hull being down to the bare bones surely left even the most optimistic member of the 900 visiting fans at the Emirates fearing a home win.

So it proved as goals from Per Mertesacker and Alexis Sanchez dumped the Tigers out of the Cup.

Bruce said: “It was a fair result. We huffed and puffed for a long period, but we never really had the cutting edge to make the tie come alive.

“We struggled to create decent chances, despite having decent possession. We just didn’t have enough in the final third, which was a bit disappointing.”

On the 10 changes, Bruce added: “It was not a case of disrespecting the Cup, as we had one of the best days of our lives last year.

“But the injury problems we have got meant we had to make the changes. I also looked at Jake Livermore, Ramirez and David Myler, who had run 45, 46 and, in one case, 47 kilometres in six days. To ask them to go and do it again wouldn’t be possible.”

In the Cup final, Arsenal had been caught cold by a stunning Hull start that yielded early goals for James Chester and Curtis Davies. A repeat yesterday tea-time, however, was never on the cards, as the Gunners tore into the visitors from the start and were ahead inside 20 minutes.

The goal was a simple affair, a left-wing corner from Sanchez allowing Mertesacker to get above Davies and plant a firm header beyond both Steve Harper and Robbie Brady on the line.

It was a soft way to fall behind, but Arsenal were full value for the lead having earlier created two gilt-edged opportunities as, first, Harper denied Joel Campbell with his right foot and then Sanchez had a shot blocked by Harry Maguire.

Once ahead, Arsenal clearly had no intention of sitting on their lead and it needed a brilliant goal-line block from Paul McShane to keep out Sanchez after the Chilean had dribbled round Harper.

Walcott was the next to be left frustrated by Hull as Harper saved his snap-shot following a lovely floated pass from Santi 
Cazorla.

Hull, too, had their moments of attacking potency in the first half, but Tom Ince dragged a shot wide and McShane headed tamely at David Ospina despite being unmarked in the six-yard box.

Maguire also headed dangerously across goal from Brady’s corner, but neither Sone Aluko or Yannick Sagbo were able to get what would surely have been a decisive touch.

Any hopes, however, that Hull could ask further questions of Arsenal after the break were answered as the hosts reasserted their authority.

The Cup holders almost doubled their lead five minutes into the second half, when Sanchez brought a sprawling save from Harper. Campbell spurned an even better chance just after the hour when dragging a shot wide from just inside the area after Hull reacted slowly to the danger.

It was a poor miss, but far from the last time Arsenal would be profligate in front of goal, as Theo Walcott shot wide after being played through by the impressive Cazorla and Sanchez hesitated to allow Maguire to pull off a goal-saving tackle.

Walcott could have made amends moments later, but again poor control saw the chance go begging before Harper pulled off another good save to deny Sanchez.

It seemed that the Chilean, comfortably the game’s outstanding player, was destined not to score against the Tigers.

But then a neat turn on the edge of the area with eight minutes remaining left Curtis Davies for dead and Sanchez did the rest with a curled shot beyond Harper. Hull’s hopes of forcing a replay were over, leaving Arsenal with a safe passage to this season’s fourth round to go with the Cup they won in such dramatic fashion last May.