A goal from Martin Odegaard after the break gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory against Hull City at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, moving Mikel Arteta's team six points ahead at the Premier League summit. BBC Sport framed the afternoon around a different question entirely: whether Odegaard's finish spared the VAR a difficult evening.

Odegaard punishes Hull's resistance

Hull arrived without a win since the end of August, according to Football.London, but they did not sit deep as many had expected. According to Arseblog News, the away side applied early pressure to Arsenal, forcing David Raya to dive and deny a low shot from Elliot Stroud, with Mohamed Cho's subsequent effort then blocked.

Arsenal dominated the ball without creating much for long spells. Declan Rice tried his luck from distance, and both Rice and Christos Tzolis tested Konstantinos Tzolakis in the Hull goal. A neat exchange down the right between Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber ended with Tzolis volleying over when he should have done better, and Havertz, sent through by Odegaard after a Bruno Guimaraes pass, hesitated and was caught trying to work the ball onto his left foot.

The deadlock was broken on 72 minutes, per the Mirror. Tzolakis pushed away a Noni Madueke effort and Odegaard was first to the loose ball, thumping it into the net. The Mirror noted it was the captain's third Premier League goal of the campaign, having managed one in the whole of 2025-26.

The VAR call that went against Arsenal

The first half's most notable moment came from the video assistant. After defender Nobel Mendy tugged Havertz's shirt in the box, referee Farai Hallam was directed to the pitchside monitor. Hallam confirmed a holding offence had occurred, then announced that Havertz had been in an offside position, so Hull were awarded a free kick rather than Arsenal a penalty.

Arseblog News observed that opinions will differ on whether the law was applied correctly. The Mirror described the episode as the highlight of an otherwise drab opening period.

Changes, and a managed absence

Arteta made five alterations to the team that beat Slavia Prague in midweek, with Timber, Guimaraes, Odegaard, Tzolis and Havertz all recalled. William Saliba was not among the substitutes despite travelling with the squad during the week; Arseblog News reported there was no new injury problem and that his fitness was simply being managed.

With around half an hour remaining, Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres came on for Rice and Havertz — a double change Arseblog News suggested might point to a load issue for Rice. Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze later replaced Riccardo Calafiori and Tzolis.

Ezri Konsa, who started in defence, had been declared "fine" by Arteta before kick-off after being withdrawn in the previous match, Football.London reported. The Mirror noted that Bukayo Saka was missing, while Football.London noted that Madueke had been omitted from Thomas Tuchel's most recent England squad and had found the net in Czechia.

Six clear at the summit

The win leaves Arsenal six points ahead of their nearest challengers. Football.London had noted before kick-off that victory would put that gap between the Gunners and Manchester City, who travel to Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal are next in action after the international break, when they visit Newcastle United at St. James' Park on Saturday 21 November, with a 17:30 kick-off.

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