Two goals each from Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott saw holders Arsenal stretch their three-year unbeaten run in the FA Cup thanks to a comfortable 4-0 win at Hull City on Tuesday.
Arsene Wenger’s side will host Premier League rivals Watford in the last eight on Sunday to contest a place in the semi-finals at Wembley in April after victory in a 15th consecutive tie for the Gunners as they close in on a third straight success in the competition.
Giroud opened the scoring before the break and added another in the 71st minute before Walcott netted twice in the final 13 minutes, but Arsenal progressed at a cost, losing centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Gabriel in addition to Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey to injury in sealing only a second away win since mid-December.
However, a first win in six games saw Arsenal avoid their longest run without victory for 18 years as they continue to enjoy life in a cup where they last tasted defeat in February 2013 against Blackburn Rovers.
As Arsenal fans unfurled a large banner proclaiming ‘Thanks for the memories Arsene, time to go’ before kick-off, a visiting side showing six changes started brightly and had the ball in the net early on only for Walcott’s crisply-taken volley from inside the area to be correctly ruled out for offside.
Joel Campbell should have done better when curling a shot from 15 yards wide as Hull were caught by a swift Walcott-inspired counter-attack, but it was the hosts who came close to breaking the deadlock when a stunning save low to his right from Arsenal ‘keeper David Ospina diverted a deflected 20-yard effort from David Meyler that appeared destined for the bottom corner. The Guardian
