Martin Ødegaard nets winner as Arsenal edge past Hull to extend lead in Premier League
Martin Ødegaard scored the decisive goal as Arsenal beat Hull at Arsenal's ground in a Premier League match on 7 November 2026, the captain’s fifth of the season. The strike secured a narrow victory that sent Arsenal into the international break with a healthy lead over Manchester City.
Arsenal’s supporters were reminded of the patience that accompanied their 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions as Mikel Arteta’s side had to work to break down a resolute Hull team that had not beaten Arsenal in 14 attempts since winning on their first visit to this ground in 2008. The newly promoted visitors remained without a league win since August but started brightly and set up a frustrating contest for the hosts. After a recent defeat by Brighton, Arteta reverted to the side that won at Liverpool last weekend and Arsenal have now matched their record tally of 27 points from their opening 10 games.
Hull’s manager Sergej Jakirovic insisted beforehand his team would be proactive, saying “If you are passive, they will destroy you,” and selected Mohamed-Ali Cho alongside Oli McBurnie in a 5-3-2 system. Hull made the brighter opening with John Egan heading wide from a corner, while Arsenal deployed a familiar lineup as Arteta sought to control the contest. William Saliba was absent from the bench as he is set to play for the under-21s on Sunday while continuing his comeback from a back injury.
Arsenal repeatedly met Hull’s low block and created chances from set pieces and open play; Gabriel Magalhães just failed to connect with Ezri Konsa’s flick-on from a corner. Hull troubled the hosts on the break after Riccardo Calafiori surrendered possession, Elliot Stroud forcing David Raya into a save. With Bruno Guimarães preferred to Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martín Zubimendi, the match report noted the absence of a natural No 6 could expose Arsenal to counterattacks.
Tensions rose before half-time when Hull’s bench protested after Ødegaard brought down Cho inside the Arsenal half but the referee dismissed their claims. Arsenal thought they had a penalty after VAR review when Farai Hallam went to the big screen; Nobel Mendy was clearly pulling Kai Havertz’s shirt inside the area yet Havertz was offside so the penalty was not awarded. The report set out the officials’ interpretation of the rules: “They state that Havertz must be ‘attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball’ to be penalised and because Mendy’s offence came first, that should have taken precedence.”
Arteta’s frustration grew as Havertz could only head straight at Konstantinos Tzolakis on the stroke of half-time, and Hull began the second half in the same spirit, earning Jakirovic a yellow card for protesting another decision. Noni Madueke forced a save from Tzolakis after a flowing Arsenal move and Arteta emptied his bench; one of Eberechi Eze’s first touches saw him fire over from long range. The feeling of desperation among the visitors increased as Arsenal pressed for a breakthrough.
Ødegaard was quickest to react when Tzolakis spilled Madueke’s shot, turning the rebound into the net to finally break Hull’s resistance and secure the win. The goal ensured Arsenal would head into the international break with the points that maintained their advantage over Manchester City.
Arsenal finish this block of fixtures having matched their record 27 points from 10 games, and Enzo Maresca’s side are up next here in the league after the international break.