Hull achieved one of the shocks of last season when they triumphed 2-1 at the Emirates in September 2008. A repeat seems highly unlikley as Hull’s away form has been wretched in 2009 and they are without midfield dynamo Jimmy Bullard, whose troublesome knee threatens to derail any attempts to climb the table. Arsenal are not entirely without problems of their own, however; after scoring 36 goals in their first 11 games, they have manged just five in five without Robin van Persie who picked up an injury on international duty. Richard Flower

Venue Emirates Stadium

Tickets Sold out

Last season Arsenal 1 Hull 2

Referee S Bennett

This season’s matches 12 Y49, R2, 4.25 cards per game

sportingbet odds Arsenal 3-20 Hull 14-1 Draw 5-1

Arsenal

Subs from Fabianski, Mannone, Mérida, Senderos, Ramsey, Eboué, Wilshere, Eduardo, Vela

Doubtful None

Injured Fábregas (hamstring, 27 Dec), Traoré (hamstring, 27 Dec), Clichy (back, 30 Dec), Bendtner (groin, Jan), Rosicky (groin, Jan), Gibbs (ankle, Feb), Djourou (knee, Apr), Van Persie (ankle, Apr)

Suspended None

Form guide DWWLLW

Disciplinary record Y25 R0

Leading scorers Fábregas, Van Persie 7

Hull

Subs from Duke, Mouyokolo, Mendy, Olofinjana, Barmby, Ghilas, Cousin, Altidore, Vennegoor of H, Halmosi, Kilbane, Sonko

Doubtful None

Injured Bullard (knee, Jan), Ashbee (knee, May)

Suspended None

Form guide DLDWDW

Disciplinary record Y31 R2

Leading scorers Geovanni, Hunt 3

Match pointers

• Hull beat Arsenal here last season, becoming the only team to concede first at the Emirates and go on to win

• Arsenal have won 10 of their last 12 home games, all by at least a two goal margin

• Boaz Myhill has made the most saves per game (4.2) of any regular goalkeeper

• Cesc Fábregas already has 12 assists this season, two more than he got in the whole of the last campaign

• Hull recorded victories in four of their first five Premier League away matches but have won only one of their ensuing 22 away games

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With so much attention on Hull’s manager Phil Brown going into their injury-time win over Stoke last time out, the return of Jimmy Bullard went relatively unremarked, but the Londoner’s galvanic midfield efforts brought the scrappy but determined best out of the Tigers. Another concern for West Ham fans is that Gianfranco Zola’s side has been playing well without getting the results, and with relegation likely to mean financial meltdown for each of these clubs, they badly need to leave Humberside with at least a point. Harry Polkey

Venue KC Stadium

Tickets Sold out

Last season Hull 1 West Ham 0

Referee M Clattenburg

This season’s matches 10 Y31, R1, 3.20 cards per game

sportingbet odds Hull 17-10 West Ham 7-5 Draw 11-5

Hull

Subs from Duke, Warner, Kilbane, Ghilas, McShane, Marney, Boateng, Barmby, Vennegoor of H, Sonko, Mouyokolo

Doubtful Myhill (knee), Olofinjana (hamstring)

Injured Ashbee (knee, uknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WLDLWL

Disciplinary record Y23 R1

Leading scorer Geovanni 3

West Ham

Subs from Kurucz, Stanislas, Tomkins, Diamanti, Gabbidon, Daprela, Kovac, Ilunga, Dyer, Jiménez, Nouble, Ngala

Doubtful Cole (hamstring), Diamanti (hip), Dyer (hamstring), Gabbidon (calf), Ilunga (hamstring), Stanislas (virus), Tomkins (groin)

Injured Boa Morte (knee, Feb), Ashton (ankle, unknown), Davenport (legs, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide LWDDLD

Disciplinary record Y24 R2

Leading scorer Cole 6

Match pointers

• After conceding five in their opening home match, Hull have let in just three goals in their last five games at the KC Stadium

• West Ham have not won any of the six matches in which Carlton Cole has found the net for them

• Hull are the only side not to have an English player score for them this season

• West Ham have won only one of their last 11 league matches and have kept just a single clean sheet in that time

• Hull have attempted fewer shots on goal (88) than any other side in the top flight

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