The game would have gone to the Gunners side, had it not been for Jakupovic’s performance. “Why do we have to have a replay?”
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West Bromwich Albion exited in disgrace, though, losing 3-1 at second-tier Reading before its captain, Chris Brunt, was struck near his eye by a coin thrown by one of his team’s own supporters after the game.
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.
The FA Cup is a wonderful competition but something of a bonus to some.
Manchester City are reportedly “furious” they have to play their FA Cup tie with Chelsea on Sunday, three days before they visit Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.
“And that’s the big reason why. We knew it would be a hard game, that we’d be defending, but we took a 0-0”. That’s added to the fixture pile-up we’ve got.
Bruce was also full of praise for Jakupovic – who was making just his eighth appearance of the season – and defended his wholesale changes.
But that was not enough to settle the tie in the holders’ favour, with Jakupovic producing another excellent save in added time to keep Hull’s hopes alive.
When Arsenal did assert themselves, Jakupovic was in excellent form, saving well from Walcott with his legs in the 28th minute.
“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”.
In the day’s only all-Premier League clash, Everton won 2-0 at Bournemouth, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku scoring for the visitors after the Toffees’ keeper Joel Robles saved a first-half penalty from Charlie Daniels.
Make no mistake about it, the Premier League is the first priority but I would really like to see Le Prof fielding a stronger starting eleven when his Arsenal team take to the field at the KC Stadium.
“I’m not especially [happy], no. [The replay] is not what we wanted”.
‘I am happy for the replay (as opposed to going out). We need to be more efficient in the final third, because today we had more than 70 per cent possession and we will not have that on Tuesday night.
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And Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes the UK’s negotiations over its European Union membership are an example of why the FA Cup should remain “a little bit special”.
