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FA Cup: Walcott, Giroud at the double as Arsenal ousts Hull

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Arsenal\'s Calum Chambers, left, and Hull City\'s Nick Powell battle for the ball during their FA Cup fifth round replay soccer match, at the KC Stadium, Hull, England. Tuesday, March 8, 2016. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE

HULL, England – Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott both scored twice as FA Cup holder Arsenal easily eliminated Hull on Tuesday, overcoming the second-tier side 4-0 to reach the quarterfinals at the second attempt.

After winning the fifth-round replay, Arsenal’s quest for a third successive FA Cup title continues on Sunday with a home match against Watford.

Although Arsenal ended a five-match winless run, centre backs Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, and midfielder Aaron Ramsey limped off.

Mertesacker was concussed in a clash of heads with Hull midfielder Nick Powell in the first half. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was concerned about Ramsey’s thigh injury but believes Gabriel will be fine.

The cup once again appears to be Arsenal’s most realistic shot at silverware, having fallen eight points behind surprise Premier League leader Leicester and trailing Barcelona 2-0 in the Champions League round of 16.

Giroud’s first goals since January 13 were key to this victory and they came a day after his partner gave birth to a boy.

The 29-year-old Giroud steered home a wayward pass from David Meyler four minutes before half time. Meyler had directed the ball back to Eldin Jakupovic and Giroud capitalized by rolling a right-footed shot past Hull’s back-up goalkeeper.

Midway through the second half, the France striker fired home a cross from Walcott, who added gloss to the scoreline by turning a shot coolly into the net six minutes later and sending a deflected near-post strike past Jakupovic late on.

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