Wenger’s team were left frustrated as they were held to a scoreless draw by second-tier side Hull City in the fifth round of the FA Cup ahead of the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against the Catalans.
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Hull’s number-two finished with 11 saves to his name as Arsenal failed to find a late victor, so they will need to fit in a replay along with the Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona in the coming weeks.
The two clubs will now meet again in a replay – which has yet to be arranged – but with Arsenal still in both the Premier League title race and Champions League, Wenger concedes his team could have done without the extra game.
But the Gunners, who also beat Hull in the third round of last season’s FA Cup, paid the price for their failure to turn territorial dominance into goals. Mohamed Elneny came close with Arsenal’s first chance, seeing his placed effort kept out by the arm of Alex Bruce – although the Tigers’ defender’s block went unseen by referee Mike Dean.
When asked about being in favour of replays, Wenger pointed to Britain’s current European Union discussions as a way to show the country likes to be different.
“Eldin [Jakupovic] has come in and he’s produced some great saves and we’re delighted for him because there have been some dark moments over the past couple of years”.
Reading have slid down to 15th in the Championship having won only once in the league this year, but goals from Paul McShane, Michael Hector and Lucas Piazon sent them through to the quarterfinals at West Brom’s expense. “No. A nightmare would have been to go out”, said Wenger.
“Another match is not what we wanted but I’m happy to have a replay”. “I was absolutely disgusted and ashamed”.
Championship strugglers Reading spiced up an otherwise tiresome afternoon in the FA Cup fifth round with a shock 3-1 victory over Premier League West Bromwich Albion after holders Arsenal were held 0-0 by Hull City on Saturday. “We knew it would be a hard game, that we’d be defending, but we took a 0-0”. But we are ready and looking forward for the replay in the KC stadium.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe made no apologies for fielding an under-strength side.
The FA Cup’s diminished status means the competition is now often used as an opportunity for youngsters, fringe players or those returning from injury lay-offs to get some first-team football under their belts.
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Sunday sees Chelsea at home to fellow Premier League giants Manchester City.
