Former Spurs Midfielders Will Be Out To Get Arsenal This Evening

The red half of north London is beaming right now. Not only do they sit top of the Premier League cushioned by a seven point gap, but they are also top of their Champions League group and playing some brilliant football to boot. Now, in an attempt to continue their spectacular form the Gunners host Hull City to the Emirates this evening. While Steve Bruce’s men will be keen use their win at Liverpool as momentum to pull off another surprise victory, there will be two men in particular who are desperate to obliterate Arsenal’s chances of going even further adrift at the top.

This summer saw the arrival of Tottenham Hotspur duo Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore at the KC Stadium, the former on a permanent and the latter on a season-long loan deal, and both have thrived under the newly-found game time.

The pair make up two of the top three at the club in terms of Squawka’s Performance ratings and are likely to be the staple of the Tigers’ side tonight at the Emirates, and it will be crucial that the Arsenal midfield stifle the pair in order to dispatch of the Yorkshire side.

Huddlestone alone has created 23 chances for Hull so far this season in his 13 appearances, while Livermore has sculpted 15, but it’s the way they work with eachother that has really impressed. While the former is all about picking opposition attacks apart with his intelligent movement, and then utilising his magnificent array of passing, the latter injects the energy and keeps the midfield ticking with the short, snappy distribution.

Huddlestone has already made 62 defensive actions this season from his central midfield role, 41.9% of which were interceptions. If the 26-year-old is in the mood tonight then there is no doubt that he could ruffle some feathers amongst the Gunners and perhaps retain the likes of Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey by frustrating them out of the game.

Hull are a patient side who don’t mind knocking the ball about and waiting to spring when the opportunity arises, and if they can have a solid start to the game it could get the backs up of the home crowd and start to pressure Arsene Wenger’s men.

Livermore will also have to be closed down at all times as he has the ability to score from distance, which his deflected strike against Liverpool showed. His 85% pass success is also something that needs to be watched, which will be the job of Mathieu Flamini who holds the fort in front of the Arsenal back four.

Although the home fans will be expecting Hull to roll over and allow their belly to be tickled to Arsenal’s superior fire power, Bruce has drilled the Tigers into a well-drilled united and they could prove extraordinarily hard to break down – especially if they don’t smother the two central players, Huddlestone and Livermore.