Arsenal have been pegged back to 1-1 after taking an early lead against Hull City at the Emirates this afternoon.

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Arsenal moved the ball quickly from the first whistle and Jack Wilshere almost finished off a slick move that he started from deep, but the midfielder headed wide from Alexis Sanchez's cutback.

Michael Dawson reminded the hosts of Hull's threat from set pieces with a header that was easily held by Wojciech Szczesny, but Arsenal saw plenty more chances come their way, with Danny Welbeck firing at Steve Harper before the veteran goalkeeper denied Santi Carzola's dipping 25-yard strike from nestling in the top corner.

The hosts were a joy to watch in the opening quarter of an hour, and Sanchez gave them the goal they deserved in the 14th minute after he bamboozled Curtis Davies before rifling a low shot into the far corner.

However, totally against the run of play, Hull responded with a goal of their own.

Mohamed Diame surged forward from midfield and although he seemed to have lost the ball to Mathieu Flamini, the Senegal international muscled his way past his opponent and sent a delicate chip over the onrushing Szczesny.

Arsene Wenger and his players were left incensed that a free kick was not given for a tug on Flamini, and replays seemed to show Diame dragging the Frenchman aside shortly before his finish.

The equaliser seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts, who were subdued for the remainder of the half.

Harper was replaced before the half-time whistle with a shoulder injury, but the home side were unable to test Eldin Jakupovic in the remaining minutes before the break.