Arsenal are back on the road this weekend when they face their early-season victors Hull City at the KC Stadium. This season Arsenal.com will be identifying the key battles for the game. We will bring you all the statistics and information a fan could need so swot up now and come Saturday you will be impressing anyone who will listen with your new-found knowledge.
Geovanni v Abou Diaby
On Saturday Arsenal will be reunited with the man whose thunderbolt helped send the Gunners to their first home defeat in the Premier League for 17 months. Geovanni’s 25-yard strike hauled the Tigers level on the hour mark in September after Cesc Fabregas had given his side the lead moments after half time. The goal was Geovanni’s second of six this season and the midfielder has since added one assist to his tally. Diaby’s Boxing Day strike at Aston Villa is his only goal of the campaign although he has played less than half as much as Geovanni this season.
| Geovanni | Abou Diaby | |
| Appearances | 18 | 12 |
| Minutes played | 1447 | 699 |
| Assists | 1 | 1 |
| Successful crosses | 3 | 0 |
| Unsuccessful crosses | 23 | 3 |
| Successful dribbles | 15 | 8 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 12 | 5 |
| Goals scored | 6 | 1 |
| Complete passes | 70 | 46 |
| Incomplete passes | 33 | 25 |
| Shots on target | 30 | 7 |
| Shots off target | 24 | 3 |
| Tackles lost | 7 | 5 |
| Tackles won | 12 | 6 |
Bernard Mendy v Gael Clichy
Phil Brown knew all about Bernard Mendy from his time as assistant manager at Bolton Wanderers and, as a result, the Tigers boss offered the Frenchman another stab at the Premier League during the summer. The 27-year-old has repaid the manager’s faith with some eye-catching displays on the right-hand side of midfield, claiming a trio of assists and a goal. His opponent on Saturday is Gael Clichy who has completed over 100 passes so far this term as well as finally scoring his first Arsenal goal.
| Bernard Mendy | Gael Clichy | |
| Appearances | 14 | 21 |
| Minutes played | 787 | 1764 |
| Assists | 3 | 0 |
| Bookings | 3 | 4 |
| Clearances | 12 | 27 |
| Successful dribbles | 6 | 12 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 10 | 12 |
| Goals scored | 1 | 1 |
| Complete passes |
37 | 102 |
| Incomplete passes | 18 | 60 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 4 |
| Shots off target | 5 | 2 |
| Tackles won | 14 | 12 |
| Tackles lost | 8 | 8 |
Paul McShane v Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor will be looking for his first goal in five games when Arsenal visit the KC Stadium on Saturday. In his way could be former-Man United man Paul McShane. The no-nonsense defender has won 25 tackles and completed 31 clearances this season in addition to notching one goal from just two attempts at goal. Adebayor on the other hand has tried his luck 50 times in 18 appearances, scoring seven, five of which came on the road.
| Paul McShane | Emmanuel Adebayor | |
| Appearances | 17 | 18 |
| Minutes played | 1456 | 1465 |
| Assists | 0 | 7 |
| Offsides | 0 | 37 |
| Clearances | 31 | 9 |
| Successful dribbles | 3 | 13 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 4 | 7 |
| Goals scored | 1 | 7 |
| Complete passes | 42 | 65 |
| Incomplete passes | 66 | 30 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 26 |
| Shots off target | 0 | 24 |
| Tackles won | 13 | 0 |
| Tackles lost | 25 | 14 |
