Ramsey return fires up Gunners

Hull 0 Arsenal 3

The Wales midfielder set Arsene Wenger’s men on their way with his 16th goal of the season before Lukas Podolski scored either side of half-time to take his tally to four goals in two games.

It meant the Gunners held on to their place in a Champions League berth ahead of Everton. Record signing Mesut Ozil was back in the Arsenal side after missing seven matches with injury but Ramsey stole the show, playing a part in all three goals after Arsenal weathered an early storm from Steve Bruce’s spirited hosts.

“Ramsey and Ozil give us cutting edge in the final third that make us look much more dangerous,” Wenger said. “Football is down to the quality of the players. We have had problems scoring goals away from home but players like that help. It was good to have Ozil back. The timing of his passes and incisiveness means we can turn from defence to offence very quickly.

“We knew we had to win, we had that kind of pressure. We could already see against West Ham there’s something better and we saw it again today. It looks like there’s oil in the engine again.”

Hull set about their visitors with tenacity and missed excellent chances to get themselves in front.

Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny tipped Nikica Jelavic’s low shot around the post after Tom Huddlestone’s quick free-kick.

At the other end, Steve Harper beat away Podolski’s drive from 18 yards after Ramsey led an Arsenal counter-attack, but Hull were soon back in the ascendency and should have taken the lead through Shane Long.

The Republic of Ireland striker caught up with another excellent Jake Livermore pass to go one on one with Szczesny. Shooting was Long’s only option but, with the angle narrowing, he fired over the bar. It was a wasted chance and Arsenal showed Hull how it is done as they snatched the opener.

Ozil and Santi Cazorla combined delightfully to return the ball to Ramsey on the edge of the Hull area and the midfielder buried his low shot beyond Harper.

Livermore, on loan from Tottenham, shone for Hull and was unlucky not to score his fourth goal of the season.

The 24-year-old arrived to meet David Meyler’s square pass 20 yards out but the low shot came back off the foot of the post.

Arsenal doubled their lead with another fine goal. Hull felt they should have had a free kick as Jelavic tumbled under pressure from Mikel Arteta in the Arsenal half and, seconds later, the ball was in the Hull net.

Olivier Giroud crossed to Ramsey whose chest-down fell perfectly for Podolski and the German’s left-foot volley flashed beyond Harper.

Long was replaced at half-time after suffering a calf injury that could keep him out of the trip to Fulham on Saturday.

Without him, the Tigers lacked bite and Ramsey was instrumental again as Arsenal ended the contest with the third nine minutes into the second half.

Cazorla exploited space in behind Ahmed Elmohamady and crossed from the left for Ramsey. Harper blocked the midfielder’s first-time shot with a foot but Podolski was lurking to rifle in the loose ball.

Giroud almost capitalised on an error from Harper to give Arsenal a fourth.

The Frenchman closed down as the goalkeeper hesitated in dealing with Liam Rosenior’s back pass. He blocked the clearance but could only force his snap-shot against the bar.

A top-four finish for Arsenal will guarantee Europa League football for Hull, as the two teams meet in the FA Cup final on May 17 but the Tigers’ immediate concern in survival in the Premier League.

They are almost certain to beat the drop but the issue has not yet been put to bed.

“I’m not really interested in Wembley just yet,” Bruce said.

“We’ve got to stay in this league and let Wembley look after itself.

“We’ve got to concentrate on the next few games and make sure we get over the line. We haven’t done it yet, we’re not safe. We’ve still got a bit of work to do.

“Towards the end, of course, it was very easy for them but the first half was the best we’ve played for weeks.

“I couldn’t have been more pleased but, unfortunately, we found ourselves 2-0 down. Sometimes it is cruel but that’s what the big league’s all about.”

HULL CITY (4-4-2): Harper 6; Elmohamady 7, Davies 6, Chester 6, Rosenior 7; Meyler 6 Huddlestone 6, Livermore 7, Boyd 7 (Koren 84); Jelavic 6 (Quinn 69, 6), Long 6 (Fryatt 46, 6).

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 7, Sagna 6, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6; Arteta 6, Ramsey 8; Cazorla 7, Ozil 6 (Flamini 61, 6), Podolski 8 (Sanogo 84); Giroud 6 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 74, 7).

Referee: Jonathan Moss.