Published: 23 February, 2016
by ELLA JESSEL at the Emirates Stadium

ARSENE Wenger could live to regret his support of “traditional” FA Cup replays after a goalless draw with Hull City means he now has to squeeze a trip to Humberside into a crowded fixture list.

The 5th-round tie was a frustrating affair as the holders dominated the game and peppered Hull with shots but failed to put one away against the dogged Championship side. 

The Arsenal boss blamed a lack of efficiency in the final third but, despite facing a fixture headache, he was relatively upbeat after the match, telling reporters “the nightmare would have been to go out”. 

He added: “The frustration is that we didn’t score and it’s not what we wanted, to have a replay, but between that and going out, we choose the replay. I am happy for the replay.”

When asked why he was so relaxed, Wenger said: “I am not as relaxed as I look! Honestly, [if I were] nervous or angry, it wouldn’t change the result. I would be if it would change the result.”

The match started sedately with Arsenal stroking the ball around Hull’s back four in leisurely fashion, creating a chance here and there but playing for the most part with a perplexing lack of urgency. 

Appeals for an early penalty were waved away by referee Mike Dean after Mohamed Elneny’s shot was blocked by Alex Bruce’s arm.

Danny Welbeck, who fizzed with energy and looked desperate to score, forced a first save from Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic as he rose to head powerfully from a Theo Walcott cross.

In the second half, with the prospect of a replay looming large, the hosts revved into gear but the siege on the Tigers’ goal came too late and, despite the best efforts of Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott, nothing got past Jakupovic.

It was the Bosnia-born Switzerland international’s game of his life, and he knew it, celebrating his own save after watching it back on the video replay and clambering into the stands to hug his family at the final whistle. The best of his stops came from Joel Campbell’s free-kick, which he brushed past the post with the edge of a fingertip. 

Not even bringing on the cavalry helped. Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on to try and win it with half an hour to go but failed to break the deadlock.

Between them both managers had made a total of 19 changes and the game suffered as neither side really gelled.

But the Arsenal manager defended his choices, arguing he had fielded many international players and handed young players the chance to start. 

“People want you to give a chance to young players. When you play them, they say, ‘it’s a shame’”, said Wenger.

It surely won’t be long before he offers Alex Iwobi a start in the league too, because the 19-year-old is starting to look like the real deal. Finding space and threading balls through Hull defenders, he shone again.

Wenger said after the game that he had to nip off so he could catch Barcelona’s game against Las Palmas. Arsenal fans will hope manager Luis Enrique had not returned the favour and tuned into the action at the Emirates because this drab draw would hardly have the Spanish side quaking in their boots ahead of tonight’s clash.