Arsenal stayed top of the Premier League on Saturday after captain Martin Odegaard scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Hull City at the Emirates Stadium. The win moved the champions to 27 points from 10 games, six clear of Manchester City, who face Nottingham Forest later on Saturday.
Hull, newly promoted this season, made life hard for the home side. Their defence stayed organised for more than an hour, and Arsenal struggled to find a way through. The breakthrough finally came in the 72nd minute, when Noni Madueke cut inside and fired a low shot at goal. Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis pushed the ball away, but Odegaard was first to the rebound and put it into the net from close range.
Odegaard Strikes in 72nd Minute
The goal was Odegaard’s third in the league this season and his first since September. Madueke created the chance with a strong run and a shot that Tzolakis could only push into the captain’s path.
Mikel Arteta made five changes to the side that beat Slavia Prague in Europe in midweek, but his team still looked short of their best. Hull stayed compact and gave Arsenal very little space in the final third until the late goal.
VAR Drama Before Breakthrough
The main talking point of the first half came just before the break. Play stopped for a penalty check after Kai Havertz went down following a shirt pull by Hull defender Nobel Mendy. VAR, the video system that helps the referee check big decisions, asked the referee to look again. But the penalty was not given, because Havertz was offside in the build-up.
Arsenal Defence Holds Firm Again
After the goal, Arsenal kept Hull out to record a seventh clean sheet in 10 league games. The champions have let in only five goals so far this season, the best defensive record in the league. That strong defence has been a big part of their fast start: nine wins from 10 games, with the only defeat coming against Brighton. The win also made it five league wins in a row.
The result also matched Arsenal’s best start to a Premier League season. Champions often win titles by taking three points on days when they do not play well, and this was one of those days. Hull gave them a stern test, but Arsenal found a way through in the end.
Why Win Matters for Title Race
Arsenal now go into the international break on top of the table. They will stay there whatever happens at Nottingham Forest, where Manchester City can only cut the gap to three points. The Premier League returns in two weeks, and Arsenal will start that next block of games as leaders.
Saturday’s results so far in Matchweek 10:
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Everton v Coventry City (Friday) | 3-1 |
| Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur | 1-0 |
| Arsenal v Hull City | 1-0 |
| Fulham v Newcastle United | 1-1 |
| Nottingham Forest v Manchester City | Later on Saturday |
Top of the Premier League after Arsenal’s win:
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 10 | 27 |
| Manchester City | 9 | 21 |
Martin Odegaard scored the only goal in the 72nd minute, putting in the rebound after Noni Madueke’s shot was saved by Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Arsenal are six points clear on 27 points from 10 games. Manchester City can cut the gap to three points if they beat Nottingham Forest later on Saturday.
The Premier League takes a break for the international window after this weekend’s games and returns in two weeks.
