Daniel Cousin grabbed the winner for Hull to end Arsenal's unbeaten run at the Emirates Stadium and mark Arsene Wenger's 12th anniversary at the club with a shock defeat. Phil Brown's men join West Ham as the only teams to have beaten Arsenal at their new ground - they had gone 17 months without a home loss - with victory also denying the Gunners a return to the top of the Barclays Premier League. The hosts had taken the lead through Paul McShane's own goal but Geovanni struck a spectacular equaliser before Cousin headed home in the 66th minute.
"We are Hull" sang the visiting support, as if the Premier League needed reminding. They are up to sixth and have only lost one of their first six league games. After a frustrating opening half, Wenger may have been tempted to throw on the youngsters who served him so well in the midweek win over Sheffield United. The Frenchman brought back his "OAPs" who, despite their experience, still included the likes of Denilson, 20, and the England teenager Theo Walcott. While Wenger's Carling Cup youngsters showed no fear, the current first team were guilty of the same traits that have caused Arsenal problems in recent seasons, plenty of passing and attacking without always scoring.
With the invention of Brazilian Geovanni and the steel of George Boateng, Hull stayed within sight of Arsenal and then fought back in devastating fashion. Cousin's presence clearly troubled William Gallas - the Arsenal skipper required treatment after an early clash of heads - but there is more to Hull's game than playing long to a targetman. Early on, Geovanni raided down the right, then went over the crossbar with an overhead effort from the resulting corner, while Marlon King was unfortunate to be called offside when he was sent through. It was Arsenal's cue to go through the gears but Cesc Fabregas dragged a shot wide when given plenty of time on the edge of the area.
Emmanuel Adebayor thought he had headed an opener past Boaz Myhill but Alan Wiley adjudged him to have pushed Michael Turner before climbing on McShane. There was further desperate and brave defending when Walcott raced through, with Andy Dawson getting back to make the tackle as the teenager prepared to pull the trigger. Walcott was presented with an even clearer opportunity when he got on the end of Emmanuel Eboue's cross but his touch betrayed him and Myhill gathered. Brown had been furious with his players for giving away the ball and his mood did not improve when Denilson elbowed Ian Ashbee, Wiley awarding a free-kick but not booking the youngster.
Eboue drilled into the side-netting just before the interval, the closest Arsenal came to a first-half goal. Geovanni had the ball in the net for the visitors but play had been called back for a foul long before he connected with a sweet volley over Manuel Almunia. Arsenal had been warned. Fabregas was required to clear off the line when Boateng had an effort from the edge of the area just after the break before the hosts took the lead in the 50th minute. Robin van Persie sent Walcott down the right, the youngster twisting and turning his way to the by-line before pulling back for Adebayor. His scuffed effort went past Myhill, with McShane turning the ball into his own net under pressure from Fabregas. Hull threatened through Dean Marney, whose scissor-kick was parried by Almunia before their reply came in the 62nd minute. Geovanni collected the ball on the left, cut inside Walcott and let fly with a rocket into the top corner from 30 yards. "You beauty," was Brown's reaction on the touchline as he punched the air. Then Cousin scored four minutes later, getting in front of Gallas to head home from a Dawson corner. Carlos Vela was sent on from Wenger's clutch of youngsters on the bench and he went wide after Gallas hit the bar with a header. Myhill then tipped over from Fabregas' drive in stoppage-time as Hull clung on for a famous win. *PA Sport
