The Gunners supremo has been talking about City's qualities in the Premier League

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Hull City's ability to be a constant threat inside the penalty box is a quality that he admires, as he revealed more about why Sergej Jakirovic's Tigers had impressed him.

Ahead of Saturday's 1-0 win at the Emirates, Arteta had spoken positively about the remarkable journey the East Yorkshire had been on.

Jakirovic's men made life difficult at the weekend, and were not without their own chances to take the lead before captain Martin Odegaard pounced inside the box to tuck home the winner after Kostas Tzolakis had repelled Noni Madueke's effort.

That 1-0 reverse at the home of the champions was just a third in the opening 10 games for City, whose heaviest defeat has been by the odd goal so far.

Jakirovic also sprung a surprise when the starting line-ups were announced, with him opting to go with a three in midfield and Mohamed-Ali Cho up front in support of Oli McBurnie.

Arteta admits the make-up of City's starting XI was one of the things he wasn't too sure about, but City's fighting spirit and willingness to graft - the hallmark of their promotion season did not catch him by surprise at all.

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"We had doubts with the line-up first of all, whether they're playing 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 because that was the first time that they've done it," Arteta told Hull Live. "Certain location of players, the way they present it and who they are, it was exactly what we expected.

"I gave them praise (pre-match) because I really believe that they fully deserve that. They are really well organised. They are really aggressive when they have to be.

"They are really pressing in the block, and you have the sense that anytime the ball is in the box, they can score a goal. And that's a big quality."

Arteta was on the substitutes' bench the last time City scored a Premier League goal at the Emirates back in 2014 when Mo Diame and Abel Hernández netted in a 2-2 draw. Sitting on the bench 16 long years ago with the Spaniard was a certain Semi Ajayi.

The powerful Nigerian defender was immense at the Emirates on Saturday before he was forced off in the second half with a cramp, and while Arteta stopped short of lavishing his former Gunners teammate with praise, he did offer words of positivity for the collective Tigers' display in North London.

"I don't like to talk a lot about other players, but I think they deserve the credit individually and collectively for what they've done because they kept believing and going at it," Arteta added.