Arsenal was held by second-tier Hull to 0-0 in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, forcing the titleholder to squeeze a replay into its congested fixture schedule.
Fielding a weakened team ahead of a Champions League last-16 match against Barcelona on Tuesday, Arsenal created a slew of chances 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.
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.
It was the third straight year that Arsenal and Hull have met in the competition.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.
Scrapping replays in the FA Cup is among measures being considered to trim the fixture list in English soccer, although Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday that he wanted them to stay.
"I like the English formula because it's a little bit special," Wenger said.
"I like the idea that in England you don't do things like anywhere else. That's why you negotiate in Brussels at the moment as well," Wenger added, referring to Britain's European Union discussions.
However, Arsenal and Hull will be struggling to fit the replay into their packed upcoming schedules before the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for the weekend of March 12-13.
"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 is bidding to become the first team since Blackburn in 1886 to win the FA Cup three years in a row.
Reading, a beaten semifinalist last season, went behind to Darren Fletcher's goal in the 54th, but replied through Paul McShane, Michael Hector, and on-loan Chelsea forward Lucas Piazon.
Watford advanced after Scott Wootton prodded the ball into his own net in the second half as he attempted to clear a cross.
Bournemouth hosted Everton in the other fifth-round match on Saturday.