Arsenal away may present the toughest test yet, but keeping our home record intact should be the priority, says Tigers fan Natalie Murphy
Hull City were leading 2-1 before beiung pegged back(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Whatever happens at the Emirates on Saturday, there is one thing that top of the table Arsenal, the reigning champions of England, cannot take away from us this weekend – our unbeaten home record.
And, thanks to another International break, it’s an achievement that will remain intact for at least a couple more weeks. It’s not until November 22 that Brighton will make the journey north to try and do what Man United, Villa, Everton, Brentford and Ipswich could not, and that is take three points away from a trip to Hull.
The Gunners will take their shot at the MKM stadium in January and the success of our season will depend more on whether our home remains a fortress by the time 2027 comes around than the result at their place tomorrow.
Beating or matching Arteta’s side would represent a shock bigger than Spiders closing after 46 years, and go straight to the top of the list of highlights in what has already been a remarkable return to the top flight for Tigers fans, especially the 3,003 travelling supporters who will be there. How many will be daring to dream (trademark) after Fleetwood Town proved that Arsenal can be beaten by teams with far less talent?
But the points we take from perhaps the toughest test of the season so far are less important than the performance. Take last week’s match against Ipswich. The first half brought back bad memories of the Fulham game and, given the opposition, unwanted thoughts about a return to the Championship. Then after the break, two goals that put us ahead proved the old truth that football is a game of two halves.
In the end, Ipswich’s equaliser settled things with a draw but the improvement was enough to keep spirits high on Halloween – and maintain that unblemished home run. Whether the revival was down to a change in structure, a step up in quality, or the substitutions, is up for debate but as supporters, what we want, more than anything, is something to cheer. And this is where the Premier League differs from life in the second tier.
Too many draws, it seems, sends you sinking down the table in Championship – a league which is unbelievably difficult to make progress in – and prompts restlessness among the faithful in the stands. Taking a point off any team in the Premier League is different. And when another match ending at honours even means protecting an unbeatable reputation, it’s even better.
Only Arsenal have managed to maintain such a record both home and away in the Premier League era in their famous ‘invincibles’ season, as London commuters travelling from Hull are reminded every time they pass their stadium on the way into King’s Cross. Surprisingly few have also maintained the record at home, with only Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Spurs, along with Arsenal, doing so.
This season, we are one of just four teams yet to face defeat on home turf. They are Brighton, Leeds and, of course, the club that’s on all of these lists, Arsenal – making the prospect of a victory there even more stunning. The wait for our next win can continue, however, if it means Hull City become only the seventh side in Premier League history to remain unbeaten at home all season. Because who wouldn’t want that boast in their football bragging arsenal?