It’s six of the best for on-fire Abraham
TAMMY ABRAHAM celebrated staying at Aston Villa with the goal that ended Hull’s six-match winning run.
The Chelsea striker turned down a move to Premier League Wolves to stay on loan at Villa Park until the end of the season.
And he scored for the sixth home game in a row to cap a great Villa fightback with an equaliser that underlined his value to boss Dean Smith.
Nigel Adkins’ men remain unbeaten in 10 games but their winning streak is over despite them taking a 2-0 lead through Jarrod Bowen and Evandro.
Former Hull defender James Chester threw Villa a lifeline just before half-time and Abraham completed the turnaround.
But Villa are without a win in their last five at home and boss Smith: “We’ve got to win games here. I’ve only felt defeat here once in the league but there have been too many draws.
“We’ve shown character a few times to come back but we need the quality to go out and win games.
“Our cover in defensive areas hasn’t been great and we’ll look to address that in the transfer window.”
Hull led in the 27th minute when Chester and Neil Taylor failed to clear and the ball dropped for Bowen, whose firm half-volley squirmed under the arm of goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic.
And the lead was doubled
10 minutes later as Kamil Grosicki crossed from the left and Evandro connected with a first-time shot that flew inside the far post.
Villa pulled a goal back in the final minute of the first half as Chester arrived unmarked to head home Conor Hourihane’s free-kick.
And they were level in the
64th minute when Abraham’s shot was blocked but he pounced to bury the rebound for his 17th goal of the season.
Hull boss Adkins said: “The big turning point was just before half-time when the linesman gave a free-kick against Stephen Kingsley for their goal. It was textbook defending not a free-kick.
“We could have won but we kept our unbeaten run so it was an enjoyable day.”
MAURIZIO SARRI did not need Alexandre Lacazette to ram home the point.
But the Frenchman did – and in some style too – as the confusion and chaos that has descended on Unai Emery’s Arsenal lifted a little last night.
The former Lyon hitman made an early breakthrough and Laurent Koscielny delivered a killer blow that will leave Sarri desperately pleading with his bosses to help him find the killer instinct that separates the men from the boys.
Sarri has known for some time that he needs a proper spearhead – a presence that will guarantee goals. He has decided that Alvaro Morata isn’t it.
He has identified Gonzalo Higuain and he needs that deal sorted – pronto.
For all the talk of Eden Hazard’s ability as a false No.9, the Blues do not have any kind of brooding menace up front.
By contrast, Arsenal boss Emery was able to field Lacazette – well backed up by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – and this finishing power was the difference.
Those hitmen, supported by an unusually spirited team, playing to a set pattern, proved they can still enjoy days like this.
This really was a good night for the Gunners as Emery also won the tactical battle as well as the bragging rights.
While everyone on the outside was sensing a chink in the Gunners’ armour, the Spaniard came up trumps as his Italian rival’s gameplan was blasted to pieces.
Emery said: “We wanted to win for our fans. The difference in the table between ourselves and Chelsea was six points, but this victory can help us be optimistic.
“We can be happy after today, but we need to take things game by game.
“Now we need to find the right balance at home and away. At home you can show all the supporters what you can do.
“The difference between last match and today’s game is very big, even with the same players, so we need to find that balance.”
It hasn’t been the greatest of time to be an Arsenal fan. With no cash to spend and a dodgy December any shot at the top four would have been over with defeat last night.
They would have been nine points adrift and that’s not counting the pressure being applied by a different Gunnar in Manchester.
Emery had to come up with a winning plan. Arsenal played on the front foot but out of possession they raced back to protect Bernd Leno’s goal like their lives depended on it.
The former Seville boss also gambled on the speed of Lacazette and Aubameyang causing problems and that paid off too.
His master stroke was to deploy Aaron Ramsey in a position where he picked up Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho or N’Golo Kante – or whoever starts Chelsea’s attacks.
It broke up their rhythm and once Arsenal deservedly got their noses in front it played out to perfection, apart from the sorry sight of right-back Hector Bellerin being carried off on a stretcher during the second half.
The tone of the evening had been set for Chelsea by David Luiz’s first touch of the ball in the opening exchange.
It was sloppy, gifted possession to the Gunners and set them on the front foot. It was all the encouragement they needed