Arsenal 1-0 Hull City: Martin Odegaard breaks Tigers' resistance to clinch victory for Premier League champions

Hull defended resolutely for over an hour at the Emirates Stadium but the pressure told when Odegaard reacted quickest to convert a rebound after Konstantinos Tzolakis had saved from Noni Madueke.

Arsenal struggled to create clear openings for much of the contest and lacked cutting edge in the first half as Kai Havertz wasted a one-on-one chance and Christos Tzolis spurned opportunities.

The hosts were also controversially denied a penalty following a VAR check when Havertz was adjudged to have been offside as his shirt was pulled by Nobel Mendy near the end of the first period.

According to Premier League rules, however, the foul by Mendy should have taken precedence as Havertz was not "attempting to play the ball, or challenging for the ball" as he made his run, meaning the penalty should have been awarded.

Hull were difficult to break down and went close to an opener when Elliot Stroud forced a fine save from a full-stretch David Raya, but Arsenal stepped up the intensity in the second half and eventually made the all-important breakthrough.

Odegaard's goal, his first since a run of four in five games between August and September, extended their lead over second-placed Manchester City, whose defeat to Nottingham Forest puts the Gunners in a commanding position in the title race.

They could have added to their lead late on when Madueke was unable to convert a one-on-one chance and the loose ball had to be hacked off Hull's goal-line, but a 34th 1-0 win under Arteta ensures their strong start to the season continues.

Dean: Why Arsenal should have had a penalty

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean on Soccer Saturday:

"I've kind of got sucked into listening what is going on with the VAR, working out offside, shirt pull, and what happened last week at Liverpool.

"Havertz is an offside position but doesn't go and challenge for the ball, so it's not an offence. Before he can go and challenge for the ball the shirt pull also occurs so the foul is before the offside.

"Because he doesn't go and challenge for the ball, the first offence is the shirt pull. Now, for me, the shirt pull is probably a bit worse than last week. He holds it a lot longer.

"Last week was a shirt pull, let go, this was like a prolonged hold. I still don't think he would have got nowhere near the ball. The ball is probably five, 10 yards away from where he is, but they send him to the screen to look at it and they've obviously explained, the VAR to the referee, that he's offside first which is wrong.

"It should have been a restart with a penalty, not an offside."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports:

"We had some big moments that we should have scored and we didn't hit the target, get the final pass, we are one-on-one with the 'keeper and don't take the chance.

"So many situations where you don't do that, you need to rely on generating so much volume and at some point, hoping that you're going to get them down and that's the way we won the game.

"To get a result and the kind of performance we gave today is very important. We need to praise our players for the way they go about every game and what we've done since the first international break up to now with the games that we had and the amount of points we have."

On Noni Madueke: "It's a great example for the dressing room because before the first international break, he wasn't playing and instead of going on holiday, he went to Portugal to get somebody to train with him and get him in better condition.

"Immediately he was in the rhythm and now he is full of confidence, you can see that. He is trying things, running past players, impacting games with goals and assists and we are very happy."

On Havertz's penalty shout: "I was confused because when the referee went to the monitor, it was because it was a clear penalty but they made a different decision based on the offside. We haven't got any clarity yet about the situation."

Analysis: Konsa sums up Arsenal solidity

This was not a vintage attacking display from Arsenal but defensively there were few faults. Their seventh clean sheet in 10 Premier League games, and 10th in 16 overall, owed a lot to their centre-back pairing. Gabriel and Ezri Konsa excelled again.

William Saliba's impending return will put pressure on Konsa to retain his place but on current form he may keep hold of the shirt. Highlights from his display included a last-ditch block on Mohamed Ali-Cho when was suddenly exposed on the break.

There was no self-congratulation afterwards. Instead he berated the referee for a perceived Hull foul, then got on with business. By the end of the game, he had won all seven of his duels and completed all but two of his 53 passes, a picture of composure.

He is making an immense contribution at the club. Arsenal had one early scare when Stroud forced a save from Raya but it is now 444 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League.

Odegaard won it but Konsa did his bit too.

Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic speaking to Sky Sports:

"We were brave, especially in the defensive phase. We didn't allow a lot of space. Sometimes we lost duels and they had good transitions.

"On the ball, we needed much better decisions to be braver and quicker transitions. If we had this, then we'd be more dangerous.

"We had some good chances but they stopped them."

Jakirovic was right to praise his side's bravery. But this game was a reminder that bravery will only get you so far. They lacked the quality to really trouble Arsenal in the final third, apart from when Stroud's curling shot tested Raya in the early stages.

Mohamed Belloumi was missed. The Algeria international has been a revelation this season, either scoring or assisting five of Hull's 11 Premier League goals. Without his creativity and imagination in the final third, their task was made far harder.

Jakirovic revealed Belloumi hadn't trained since the 2-2 draw with Ipswich due to an injury and said will not join up with Algeria during the international break as he works on his rehabilitation. Hull are going to need him for the challenges ahead.

Arsenal have 27 points from their opening 10 Premier League games this season (W9 L1). Only Chelsea in 2005/06, Manchester City in 2011/12, Manchester City in 2017/18 and Liverpool in 2019/20 have had more at the same stage.

Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in seven of their opening 10 Premier League games this season, only Birmingham City in 2003/04, Chelsea in 2004/05 and Manchester United in 2017/18 have had more at this stage, with eight.

This was Arsenal's 34th 1-0 win under Mikel Arteta in the Premier League, more than any other side in the competition since his first game in charge in December 2019.

Arsenal have won each of their last 10 home games in all competitions; only enjoying a longer run under Mikel Arteta in November 2022 (12).

5: CHANCE! Ezri Konsa flicks a Noni Madueke cross to the far post but Gabriel can't quite nudge it over the line

19: SAVE! Raya dives to his right to make a full-stretch save from Stroud as Hull threaten an opener

28: WIDE! Declan Rice fires a powerful shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box

40: WASTE! Havertz goes through on goal but tries to cut back onto his left foot and loses possession

44: VAR DRAMA! Arsenal are denied a penalty with Havertz penalised for offside as he is fouled by Mendy

57: CHANCE! Madueke forces a save from Tzolakis at his near post

72: GOAL! Odegaard makes the breakthrough as he coolly dinks his finish over Tzolakis following Madueke's shot

87: CHANCE! Madueke misses a chance to wrap up the win as he is stopped while trying to round the goalkeeper before Hull clear the deflection off the line

What the result means and next fixtures...