EPL: Arsenal too strong, but we’re ready to fight, says Hull City coach

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirović has admitted that Arsenal are favourites ahead of their Premier League meeting on Saturday but said his side have prepared to make the encounter difficult for the hosts.

Jakirović spoke ahead of Hull’s trip to the Emirates Stadium, where the visitors will play their 200th Premier League fixture before the November international break.

Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, are currently top of the Premier League table after winning eight of their opening nine matches, including their last four against Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Liverpool.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Jakirović acknowledged the quality of the Gunners but expressed confidence in his team’s preparations.

“They are playing very good football, no matter what competition. Whether it is Champions League or Premier League, they are very strong and control everything.

“We have prepared something, but obviously they are big favourites, and we will try and make it difficult for them. I have watched a lot of games of Arsenal to try and find something, but they are brilliant. They are a very strong team no matter who will play,” he said.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, warned his players against underestimating newly promoted Hull City ahead of their Premier League meeting at the Emirates Stadium.

Saturday’s encounter will also be significant for Hull defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who will return to the club where he spent 10 years of his formative football career.

The defender joined Arsenal at the age of 10 and left when he was 20 after progressing through the club’s youth system and gaining experience through several loan spells.

Reflecting on his return to his former club, Norton-Cuffy said he had fond memories of his time in north London but viewed Saturday’s encounter as another football match.

“I look back on my time at Arsenal with fond memories. I was at Arsenal since I was 10. I left at the age of 20 and had a few loan spells, so I learnt a lot. I went from a boy to a man there.

“I know a few familiar faces, but that is football. You always see a lot of familiar faces so for me, it is just another game. They won the league last year and are the best team in the league at the moment now, so it will be a difficult game. They will have a lot of the ball and cause us problems,” he said.

Norton-Cuffy also discussed the difference between playing in Italy’s Serie A and the Premier League, highlighting the intensity and speed of the English top flight.

“Tempo and pace. The intensity of the games in the Prem are just so much quicker. Serie A, you had a lot more time on the ball. It is a bit more tactical with the shape side of things.

“They emphasise that a bit more while here, you don’t have a chance to take three or four touches, because you have someone sprinting at you, so I would probably say the intensity,” he said.

Arsenal head into the fixture following an impressive start to their domestic and European campaigns. They have also recorded victories over Napoli, Lille and Slavia Prague in the Champions League, alongside a draw with Bayern Munich.

However, they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the fourth round after losing on penalties to League Two side Fleetwood Town.

The Gunners also won the Community Shield with a 3-0 victory over Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Hull could be without Japanese international Hidemasa Morita, who is undergoing another scan over a recurring groin problem.

Jakirović said the midfielder could miss the trip to London, explaining that the injury was on the same leg as his previous problem but slightly higher.

“Morita will do one more scan as there is a groin abductor problem. It is the same leg like last time, but a little higher so we will see. Maybe he will be out for this game, but it is normal. I expected these problems as he was not in pre-season with us,” he said.

The Hull manager, however, reported no other new injury concerns, providing updates on Charlie Hughes, Ilyas Ansah and Lucas Gourna-Douath.

He said Hughes had returned to group training and was expected to feature for 45 minutes against Fleetwood’s Under-21 side, while Ansah was undergoing individual training and could return to group sessions in four weeks.

Jakirović also expressed pride in Hull reaching the milestone of 200 Premier League appearances, describing it as a significant achievement for the club and its supporters.

“Very proud for the whole club. It’s not a small number, 200 appearances and we know how difficult it can be in the Premier League and stay in the Premier League, so it is very nice for us and for Hull City supporters,” he said.