Hull City defied the all the odds on Saturday evening as they claimed a 2-1 victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Even more amazingly, they had to come from behind as goals from Geovanni and Daniel Cousin turned around a 1-0 defecit.

Phil Brown made two changes to his side which drew with Everton last week.

Geovanni and George Boateng were both called into the starting eleven at the expense of Peter Halmosi and Bernard Mendy, who both dropped to the bench.

The changes also brought a switch in formation as the Tigers operated an ambitious 4-3-1-2 system with Geovanni employed 'in-the-hole' behind Marlon King and Cousin.

Andy Dawson - one of three survivors from our Third Division days - was making his 400th career appearance.

On our first visit to the Emirates, it was the first time the Tigers had visited Arsenal in the league in exactly 94 years and one day.

Today's game took place one day short of being the 12th anniversary of Arsene Wenger being appointed the Gunners' boss.

Starting the day as Premier League leaders, Arsenal reverted to their more familiar senior squad after their outstanding team of young stars trounched Sheffield United 6-0 in the midweek Carling Cup tie. 

By way of an omen, referee Alan Wiley's last game in charge of the Tigers was our historic Play-Off Final win at Wembley against Bristol City in May. 

City started confidently enough and won a corner with eight minutes on the clock.

Dean Marney's ball in wasn't cleared and eventually fell to Geovanni, whose ambitious overhead kick went well over.

Arsenal then won a corner of their own when Kamil Zayatte put Bacary Sagna's cross behind.

The Gunners worked a short routine but when the ball was eventually delivered, Ian Ashbee headed away at the near post.

Andy Dawson's foul on Denilson brought Arsenal a free kick close to the touchline, level with City's 18-yard line, on 13 minutes, but Robin Van Persie's delivery was well claimed by Boaz Myhill.

Cesc Fabregas had Arsenal's first shot of the day, but he dragged an effort wide of the far post.

City then had a lucky escape when Emmanuel Adebayor headed home Sagna's cross, only for referee Wiley to disallow the 'goal' for a push on Michael Turner.

Arsenal were starting to play the type of football people have come to expect of Arsene Wenger's side and only a perfectly timed tackle from Andy Dawson prevented Theo Walcott from having a clear run on goal.

The Tigers threatened briefly when Cousin fed Geovanni, but his shot from 25 yards was way off target.

As half time approached, Emmanuel Eboue saw his shot deflected wide by Paul McShane. City dealt with the resulting corner comfortably enough.

That led to a counter attack, but Cousin took too long to pick his pass and the chance went begging.

Less than a minute before the break, Ashbee was harshly booked for bringing down Adebayor.

Half Time: Tigers 0-0 Arsenal

City started the second half by winning a corner which, when headed to the edge of the box, was met by Boateng whose shot was deflected over by Fabregas.

The resulting corner, taken by Marney, found Turner at the back post but his header was easily claimed by Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal took the lead six minutes after the break when Walcott's strong run ended with him pulling the ball back from the byeline.

The ball struck Adebayor and fell kindly for Fabregas who just about managed to turn the ball home from close range, despite the close attention of McShane.

It could have been 2-0 moments later when Turner failed to clear a ball into the box.

It fell to Adebayor whose shot somehow deflected wide off McShane.

City looked to respond with Marney sending an acrobatic effort from King's cross into the hands of Almunia.

Amazingly, the Tigers did equalise with a Goal of the Season contender from Geovanni.

Picking up possession on the left wing, the Brazilian cut inside before firing an unstoppeable shot past Almunia and into the top corner from fully 25 yards.

It was a goal that sent the City fans wild and it almost got better in the 66th minute when Cousin broke through the middle, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

From Dawson's corner, City did take the lead.

The ball in was perfect for Cousin, who glanced a header into the far corner of the net.

City's first change came six minutes later when Bryan Hughes replaced Geovanni.

Arsenal won a succession of corners as they looked to draw level, but City's defence stood firm.

The home fans were becoming frustrated and Sagna's challenge on King on half way resulted in a yellow card for the Arsenal right back.

The Tigers' second change came 13 minutes from time with Richard Garcia coming on for Boateng while Arsenal replaced Walcott with Carlos Vela.

Myhill did well to push Fabregas's shot wide for a corner, which resulted in a City counter attack as King broke away.

But, under pressure from Kolo Toure, his shot was saved by Almunia.

City's final change in the 80th minute saw Mendy replace Cousin.

Van Persie had a good chance moments later after breaking free inside the box, but he dragged a low shot wide of the far post.

City's goal was starting to live a charmed life and when William Gallas headed a corner onto the bar, Vela couldn't convert the rebound from three yards out.

Four minutes of time were added and Myhill produced one of the saves of the season to deny Fabregas in the first of those added minutes.

Arsenal now had Gallas playing up front but City were holding on with Van Persie smashing a shot just over the bar.

The final whistle eventually sounded as the Tigers recorded arguably the most incredible victory in our history.

It was only Arsenal's second defeat in 60 games at the Emirates Stadium.

Tigers (4-3-1-2)  Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane, Michael Turner, Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson; Dean Marney, Ian Ashbee [captain], George Boateng (Garcia 77); Geovanni (Hughes 72); Marlon King, Daniel Cousin (Mendy 80).

Subs: Matt Duke, Sam Ricketts, Bernard Mendy, Bryan Hughes, Peter Halmosi, Richard Garcia, Caleb Folan.

Booking: Ashbee 45

Arsenal (4-4-2) Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, William Gallas [captain], Gael Clichy;  Theo Walcott (Vela 77), Cesc Fabregas, Denilson, Emmanuel Eboue (Bendtner 69); Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin Van Persie.

Subs: Lukasz Fabianski, Carlos Vela, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Song, Mikael Silvestre, Johan Djourou, Nicklas Bendtner.

Bookings: Sagna 76, Gallas 90

Attendance: 60,037 (this is the second highest-ever attendance for a Hull City league game, beaten only by the 66,889 who witnessed our Second Division game at Tottenham Hotspur in April 1950)