THE FA Cup is in the bag, right? 3-0 against a team whose two best players cannot play in next month's final. They may as well just give us the trophy now.
But of course football does not work like that. And it this is Arsenal after all. So while we happily took the three points that keep us in pole position to take 4th place, we are realistic enough to know it will be a completely different game at Wembley in May.
Hull showed enough in the opening 20 minutes to suggest they can cause us some problems in the final. Indeed, had Jake Livermore's effort not come back off the inside of the post soon after Aaron Ramsey had put us in front, it may well have been a tricky afternoon on Humberside.
It is also unlikely that Steve Bruce will allow his side to surrender as meekly as they did in the second half. Lukas Podolski's goal just before the break proved vital and with Premier League safety virtually secured, Hull seemed happy to accept their fate.
Yes, Arsenal played well. As well as we have done away from home from months. The return of Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey gave us back much of the attacking thrust that has been missing in recent weeks. But lets not kid ourselves. We will face a far sterner test at Wembley. Remember in 2003 when we thrashed Southampton 6-1 at Highbury a couple of weeks before we met them in the final? We only scrapped to a 1-0 win at the Millennium Stadium.
And lets not forget that winning that first trophy is always the hardest. Having gone almost nine years without one, the pressure is really on now. And we have a habit of failing in finals where we are overwhelming favourites. Ipswich in 1978, West Ham in 1980, Luton in 1988 and Birmingham in 2011.
In fact the final on May 17 could be a pivotal moment in the future success of the club. Win, and it could be the start of the period of success. As Manchester City showed in 2011, an FA Cup win can open the way for a Premier League title the following year.
Arsenal has shown this season that we are not far away. With everyone fit we have a squad capable of challenging for the title, and two or three good additions this summer, plus the return of Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere, could see us over the line next year.
Winning that first trophy could be the difference. Top level sport is 75% in the mind. You have to believe you are a winner. In a team sport, it takes most of the individuals to believe it. The only way that can truly happen is by winning things. You have seen in recent weeks, this Arsenal team do not quite have that belief yet.
So the final in four weeks time is not just about ending the much-talked about nine-year trophy drought. The success, or otherwise, of the next few seasons could depend on it.
So I expect a difficult game. Cup finals are traditionally like that. The first goal may well prove decisive. If we get it, I believe the trophy drought will be finally over and the good times could be about to return.
At Wembley in 1987 when we ended an eight-year drought by winning the Littlewoods Cup, we sang 'Arsenal are back.' And we were. Two league titles and three more cups soon followed. This year's FA Cup final could prove to be another watershed.
As someone once said, to dare is to do.
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