Arsenal are leading Hull City 1-0 in this evening's FA Cup third-round clash at the Emirates thanks to a Per Mertesacker goal midway through the first half.

© Getty Images

The hosts had a chance to break the deadlock within the first five minutes when Joel Campbell and Alexis Sanchez combined in Hull's final third, but with only the keeper to beat, the Costa Rica international couldn't get the ball past Steve Harper.

Just before the quarter-hour mark, Sanchez had to be denied by a last-ditch Harry Maguire block in front of goal, and despite reclaiming the ball back, the Chilean could only dink the ball onto the roof of the net.

Moments later, it was the visitors' turn to threaten, Thomas Ince marauding forward and weaving past two defenders, but his low strike flew a yard wide of the post.

In the 20th minute, Arsenal opened the scoring through Mertesacker, who rose high into the Hull box before planting a firm header into the net.

From then on, Arsene Wenger's charges dominated proceedings, as Sanchez fired towards an empty net, only for Paul McShane to make a last-ditch tackle, while Sone Aluko's inadvertent touch drew a great save from Harper moments later.

On the half-hour mark, Steve Bruce's charges managed to draw a save from David Ospina following a Maguire header, but aside from that, it was mostly one-way traffic for the North London outfit.