Video: Arsenal overcome Hull City with difficulty to strengthen their lead at the top

Arsenal had to dig deep against Hull City. A stubborn defensive block and an inspired goalkeeper kept the Gunners at bay, until captain Martin Odegaard struck to settle a hard-fought contest.

The 1-0 win at the Emirates, in the tenth round of the Premier League, lifted Arsenal six points clear at the top. Manchester City can cut that gap when they play later.

Hull City began the match with clear boldness, and nearly opened the scoring after just two minutes. John Egan rose to a cross from Regan Slater, but his header flew just wide of the post.

Arsenal hit back through Noni Madueke, whose cross from the right struck a Hull defender before rolling just wide of the goal.

The hosts gradually imposed their control on the ball, yet they struggled to break down the visitors' defensive organisation.

In the 19th minute, Hull nearly punished one of their counter-attacks. Oliver McBurnie fed Elliot Stroud inside the box, and he shot from a tight angle. David Raya saved before Declan Rice intervened to clear the danger away from Tim Iroegbunam's follow-up.

Rice went for the lead himself in the 28th minute, lashing a powerful effort from outside the box that drifted just wide of the post. Christos Tzolis then squandered another chance with a header that reached goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis with ease.

Tempers flared in the 41st minute. Kai Havertz hit the deck inside the box under a pull from Noble Mendy and appealed for a penalty, but the referee waved it away. A VAR review looked set to hand Arsenal a spot-kick, yet the decision stood. The check revealed Havertz had been offside at the start of the move, wiping out any chance of a penalty.

Before the break, Rice nearly broke the deadlock with a header from a Madueke cross. The Greek goalkeeper was in the right place, and the half ended goalless.

Arsenal began to apply greater pressure, while Tzolakis continued his fine form, saving a powerful attempt from Madueke in the 57th minute.

Mikel Arteta made several changes at the start of the second half. In the 63rd minute, he threw on Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino in search of attacking solutions.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 72nd minute. Madueke unleashed a shot, the goalkeeper parried it, and the ball dropped to Odegaard, who followed in with his right foot to hand Arsenal the winner.

Hull did not give up. They almost grabbed an equaliser in the 87th minute when Madueke broke clean through on goal after an attack started by Gyokeres and involving Eberechi Eze and Merino, but Tzolakis got a touch with his foot before Brooke Norton-Cuffy raced back to clear it off the goal line.

Pressure built from Hull in the closing minutes, yet Arsenal's defence, marshalled by Gabriel, dealt with the late attempts. Madueke squandered another chance after a pass from Merino in stoppage time.

The hosts held firm until the final whistle in the 90+5th minute, claiming a one-goal-to-nil victory.