Tim Iroegbunam warns Hull City: Play passively and Arsenal will 'kill' us
Tim Iroegbunam says Arsenal will "kill" Hull City if the Tigers play as they did in the first half against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Whereas it is fashionable for modern managers to talk about playing "front-footed" football, the Tigers are happy for the opposition to take the gam to them, even at home.
Following the blueprint that served them so well as they won promotion from last season's Championship, Sergej Jakirovic's men have had the least possession of any team in the 2026-27 Premier League. They have been content to soak up pressure and hit opponents on the counter-attack.
It has put them in the top half of the table nine games into a season when many pundits were tipping them for a record low points total, although they without a win since August.
Against Ipswich they initially got the balance wrong, not aggressive enough in the tackle, not accurate enough with their passing to launch counter-attacks. They were fortunate it was only 1-0 when Jakirovic was able to change things at half-time.
They will surely sit back again away to the champions on Saturday, but Iroegbunam has warned they cannot make the same first-half mistakes at Arsenal.
"I feel like we showed (Ipswich) too much respect and we were hesitant in our way of pressing and we didn't quite get to the ball when we could or we were a bit unsure," said midfielder Iroegbunam, reflecting on a game Hull came back to draw 2-2.
"At home you want to be getting after players, getting the crowd up with you, and in the first half we definitely didn't do that.
"If you give Arsenal loads of time and space on the ball, they'll kill you easily.
"We definitely want to get up to them and be on the front foot and be aggressive."