Mertesacker implores Arsenal to be more decisive against Barcelona

When asked about being in favour of replays, Wenger pointed to Britain’s current European Union discussions as a way to show the country likes to be different.

Arsenal dominated proceedings at the Emirates Stadium but were unable to break the deadlock, with Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic making 11 saves to keep the home side at bay.

The draw also ensured the strength of Wenger’s belief that replays are an integral part of the FA Cup will be tested just days after he spoke out in support of such games.

While Wenger hopes his warning not to go for broke too soon will draw a measured and mature response from his side, the Gunners boss knows the task facing them to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 is a daunting one.

“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”.

“If we have no injuries I think we can cope with it [the replay], but it’s not ideal, of course”, he told BT Sport.

Second-tier Reading came from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1, and Watford relied on an own goal to beat Leeds 1-0.

Arsenal’s three-year unbeaten run in the FA Cup continued but they laboured to beat a second-string Hull side. While Alexis had an excellent free kick effort thwarted in stoppage time, he had a woeful day in his role as a sub, notably shanking a goal attempt well wide of the target.

Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, has threatened to field a weakened team in response to what he sees as unfair fixture congestion after the FA bowed to demands from broadcasters to move the game from its original Saturday date.

Drawn FA Cup games should go straight to penalties, thus avoiding a time-consuming replay, according to Hull City manager Steve Bruce.

Bournemouth hosted Everton in the other fifth-round match on Saturday.

City are away to Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday and then take on Liverpool in the League Cup final a week on Sunday.

Traditionalists have argued to keep replays, predominantly to maintain the possibility of lower-league teams earning big-money fixtures against larger clubs.

The Gunners face a tough examination when they come up against Champions League holders Barcelona on Tuesday night as they look to progress past the round of 16 stage for the first time in five successive seasons.