FA Cup: Arsenal Sweeps Hull Aside To Progress To Quarter Finals

 Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott netted a brace each for injury-hit Arsenal as they beat Hull 4-0 to advance to the FA Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Joel Campbell had the first real effort of the game when he escaped down the right, pulled the ball back onto his left foot but curled his effort past the post.

There were few other chances in the first half hour as Per Mertesacker and Nick Powell, then Harry Maguire, needed treatment after clashes of heads.

David Ospina, in goal for the injured Petr Cech, had to be at his best to stop David Meyler’s 18-yard deflected shot, then Mertesacker had to go off with a swollen eye and was replaced by Nacho Monreal who took his place in the centre of defence.

Arsenal looked like they were struggling to break through, but were gifted an opener after an awful backpass from Meyler was prodded home by Giroud just before the break — the first time Hull’s defence had been breached at home for 652 minutes.

The Gunners nearly extended the lead from an unlikely source as Kieran Gibbs took advantage of some space to measure his shot from 30 yards but bent his effort onto the top of the bar.

After the break Mohamed Elneny went close as he hit a sweet volley after a corner was cleared, but Eldin Jakupovic tipped it over.

Arsenal’s injury woes continued, though, as Gabriel was forced off and Aaron Ramsey replaced him; Calum Chambers moving into centre-back with Mathieu Flamini going to right-back.

Hull sensed there was a chance and pushed forward, with Ramsey almost flicking the ball past his own goalkeeper after intercepting a cross.

But it was Arsenal who took control with another goal from Giroud in the 72nd minute. Theo Walcott broke free down the left, curled a cross in and, after a slight deflection, the Frenchman volleyed it into the net for 2-0.

The Gunners’ injury curse struck again shortly after as Ramsey (himself a substitute) came off for Jeff Reine-Adelaide after getting in some discomfort.

Yet Walcott got himself on the scoresheet in the 78th minute as Campbell found him with a wonderful through ball and the England international slotted home with ease.

Jakupovic had to be at his best to palm away an Iwobi drive, but was beaten just minutes later as Walcott’s drive was deflected past him at the near post.

Arsenal will now face Watford in the quarterfinals on Sunday.