ARSENAL’S bid for a third straight FA Cup title was checked by a frustrating 0-0 draw against Hull in the fifth round Saturday, forcing the teams into yet another meeting in the competition and reigniting the debate over replays.

    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.

    “I was absolutely disgusted and ashamed,” Brunt, sporting a cut under his left eye, said of the incident.

    Premier League teams Everton and Watford also advanced to the quarterfinals.

    Fielding a weakened team ahead of a Champions League last-16 match against Barcelona on Tuesday, Arsenal created a slew of chances against second-tier Hull but was denied by a mixture of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Eldin Jakupovic. Arsenal had 24 shots and Jakupovic saved 11 of them, including a tip onto the post from Joel Campbell’s shot.

    It is the third straight year that Arsenal and Hull have met in the FA Cup. Arsenal won in the final in 2014 and also in the third round last season on its way to winning the trophy for a record 12th time.

    They’ll have to play each again now. When, though, is anyone’s guess, with the teams struggling to fit another game into their congested fixture schedules before the quarterfinals are played over the weekend of March 12-13.

    Scrapping replays in the FA Cup is among measures being considered to trim the fixture list in English soccer.

    “There is nobody more traditionalist than me when it comes to the FA Cup but why can’t we just go to penalties?” said Hull manager Steve Bruce, whose team is seeking a return to the Premier League.

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has previously said he wants replays to stay.

    “I like the English formula because it’s a little bit special.

    “I like the idea that in England you don’t do things like anywhere else,” Wenger added.

    (SD-Agencies)