Hull City have already upset the odds on their return to the Premier League, and Saturday’s daunting challenge at the Emirates Stadium presents the opportunity to do so again, perhaps on the greatest scale.
Just two years ago this week, the Tigers were in the midst of a 13-game winless run in the Championship with Tim Walter on the brink of the sack, further highlighting the remarkable short-term transformation at the MKM Stadium.
But, whilst no league game can truly be considered as a ‘free hit’, taking any points off the Gunners might be as close as you can get.
Admittedly, I wasn’t at the Ipswich game, but having kept up-to-date as much as I could, the fact we were seemingly played off the park for 36 of the 45 minutes only added to my trepidation of facing the Premier League champions on their own patch, especially when seeing how they dominated Liverpool for much of the first-half at Anfield.
Clearly the introduction of a third midfielder and altering to a four-back system paid dividends for Sergej Jakirovic in the second half – even if a much-needed win proved elusive – and it has already become apparent that a front-footed approach will be adopted by the Bosnian rather than sitting in a low block for the 90-plus minutes.
Such tactics served City extremely well when earning a point, which could have been more, against Chelsea two months ago, but facing Mikel Arteta’s side is a different kettle of fish given the efficiency in which they operate with, particularly in midfield and defence, having conceded just five goals so far, leading on from just 27 concessions in the entirety of 2024/25.
Whilst it’s become clear that Jakirovic won’t operate with a 5-4-1 throughout the entire game, a big dilemma comes in the form of team selection, with Matt Crooks suspended and Hidemasa Morita set to miss out.
Tim Iroegbunam’s energy has been a welcome addition in his starts against Brentford and Ipswich, winning Oli McBurnie’s penalty in the former and then scoring last Saturday whilst also making some critical interventions elsewhere, but the circumstances surrounding Lucas Gorna-Douath continues to puzzle many fans.
The Frenchman was deemed back from his hamstring issue pre-Brentford, but his recent absence has continued in the past two games, and he, unlike many others in the first-team squad with a lack of minutes, wasn’t selected for the Under-21s win over Derby County on Monday.
There has been a school of thought from some that such an omission is down to the potential need for him to be back in Saturday’s squad, but with no update involving the 23-year-old, that remains to be seen.
Another selection headache comes on the left, where it feels wise to potentially see Elliot Stroud slot in at left (wing)-back behind Mohamed Ali-Cho, whose dynamism on the counter could prove pivotal, alongside the unpredictability of Mo Belloumi on the opposite flank.
To City fans, upsetting the odds at the Emirates is nothing new, having come from behind famously against the North London side in September 2008.
However, Arsenal are clearly a different beast this time around, even if the quality of the Premier League has dropped overall in the 18 years which have followed.
