Arsenal's Arsene Wenger hails Hull but bemoans replay outlining injuries will be key

ARSENE WENGER was left frustrated as Arsenal failed to secure a quarter-final spot in the FA Cup after being held by Hull.

Arsene WengerGETTY

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal are in danger of not defending their FA Cup title after drawing with Hull

The Championship club were left thanking their keeper Eldin Jakupovic after a string of crucial saves in the goalless draw kept Steve Bruce's side in the competition.

A replay will do neither side's respective title pursuits any good, especailly with Arsenal's injury concerns.

With Barcelona up next in the Champions League, it wasn't the ideal preperation for Wenger's team.

And as the Gunners' fixture schedule gets even more clogged, Wenger identified the fitness of his players as being the key going forward.

"No not especially good news [having replay] but Hull defended very well," said Wenger. "We were not incisive or accurate enough in our passing in the final third. As long as they did not concede, they maintained with how they played. We had 20 shots, 70% possession but no goals.

"I cannot influence the referee's decisions, only the technical quality of my team. If we have no injuries, we can cope with the fixtures.

"I think FA Cup replays is a particularity of the English rules and you have to respect that.

"The Hull goalkeeper was outstanding and kept them in the game. It would have been decided with them or us scoring a goal."

Having rested star players such as Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey, Wenger is hoping the sacrifice of doing so will earn them something against Luis Enrique's Spanish giants on Tuesday.

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