Arsenal have not gotten off to the kind of start that they would have envisaged in the English Premier League, drawing four and losing one of their first seven games.
Where to Watch Live
The game is set for a 7.30 pm IST (10 am ET, 3 pm BST) start with live coverage on Star Sports HD1 in India. The match can also be watched via live streaming online in India on Star Sports online.
There will be no TV coverage in the UK, but viewers can listen to the action live on Absolute Radio, Arsenal Player or Arsenal Player Online. Watch the action in the US on NBC Sports, while the game can also be Live Streamed online NBC Sports Extra.
Australia viewers can Live Stream the action on Fox Sports On Demand, while viewers in Canada can do the same on Watch Sportsnet. Viewers in the Middle East and North Africa can watch the match via Live Streaming online courtesy Bein Sports Connect, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can do the same via SuperSport online.
Their inability to bring their 'A' game against big opposition also came to the fore again in the 2-0 loss to Chelsea in their last Premier League match. With nine points already separating them from Chelsea, Arsenal cannot afford anymore dropped points, anymore "we were so close, but luck was just not on our side" moments – it needs to be win, win and then a few more wins, starting with the home game against Hull City.
"We had a disappointing result just before the international break, so we came out of the game frustrated because we felt that we played well enough to get a positive result," Arsene Wenger said about the loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.
"Apart from that, most of our players went away on international duty and had positive experiences so they came back in a good mood, especially our big group of English players because England won their two games."
However, the international break has thrown up a couple of casualties in Mesut Ozil and Laurent Koscielny, who have been ruled out through knee and Achilles injuries respectively. While Ozil picked up the knee problem, which will keep him out for at least six weeks, in the game against Chelsea, Koscielny's Achilles problem, which has been struggling with for a while, was exacerbated.
Ozil, no doubt, will be a big loss for Arsenal, even if the German has shown his class only in patches this season, but the bigger loss will be Koscielny. Without the central defender, Wenger is now forced to play Nacho Monreal at centre-back, with the manager left with little option due to the fact that Calum Chambers is suspended for the Hull match.
Arsenal have nobody but themselves to blame for this situation of course as they failed to sign a central defender during the summer transfer window, when it was clearly the priority.
However, Wenger must make do with what is available and the manager will hope his makeshift defence can hold off the challenge from Hull City, who have made some exciting attacking signings this summer.
"They've really done well and they've bought quality players," said Wenger about Hull. "That's why today you look at the names they have on the teamsheet and you know you have a tough game."
Apart from the defence, though, which also has Mathieu Debuchy missing, Arsenal have several other key players out – a total of nine to be exact – with Theo Walcott, who made a return from a nine-month layoff in the U-21s game against Blackburn Rovers, Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey, Serge Gnabry and Yaya Sanogo also on the sidelines.
Hull City do not have as many issues on the injury front, with only goalkeeper Allan McGregor and midfielder Robert Snodgrass ruled out.
"If we can get anything out of these games, it would be a success," said Hull City manager Steve Bruce. "We know how difficult it is. Not many teams go to the Emirates and win.
"Arsenal have a few injuries, so let's hope that we can go there and play well against them. Let's go there and see if we can take them on. It's never easy going to the Emirates. Whether they've got injuries or not, they're a really good side who can beat the best.
"We're up against it, but let's go and enjoy it, go and have a go at them and see if we catch them on a bit of an off day."
The last time the two teams met it was an unforgettable day out for Arsenal, after they overcame that early scare from Hull City to clinch the FA Cup. Wenger will hope for a more serene outing at the Emirates, but considering the threadbare nature of Arsenal's defence, goals just might be the order of the day again.
Expected lineups: Arsenal: Szczesny; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs; Flamini; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Cazorla, Sanchez; Welbeck.
Hull City: Harper; Chester, Dawson, Davies; Elmohamady, Diame, Huddlestone, Livermore, Robertson; Jelavic, Hernandez.
Prediction: 3-2 to Arsenal
