Arsenal come from behind to set up Chelsea clash.

Arsenal 2-1 Hull City

Arsenal booked a semi-final place against Chelsea thanks to a controversial William Gallas winner with a 2-1 win over a battling Hull City side in tonight's FA Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal went behind to Nick Barmby's deflected strike after 12 minutes. Hull almost doubled their lead when Geovanni tested Lukasz Fabianski in the Arsenal goal with a sublime free kick, before Barmby had a goal ruled out for offside.

The home side dominated the rest of the opening period and, with Andrey Arshavin increasingly influential, kept Hull pinned back for much of the second half. Robin Van Persie turned in from Arshavin for the equaliser in the 74th minute after good work by substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

Gallas then nodded into an empty net 10 minutes later, although the Frenchman appeared to be at least a yard offside after Boaz Myhill had flapped at a cross. Arsenal, however, closed out the game to book their first FA Cup semi-final spot since 2005.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger again kept faith with some of the youngsters that have illuminated Carling Cups in recent years; Kieran Gibbs and Carlos Vela in for Gael Clichy and Bendtner in six changes from the team that dismantled Blackburn on Saturday.

Wenger's counterpart Phil Brown also made six changes from the team that picked up a point against Newcastle at the KC Stadium, with striker Manucho entrusted with a lone role in front of a five-man midfield.

As early as the third minute, the Angolan striker turned Johan Djourou with consumate ease, only to look for help which was not coming, allowing Arsenal to regroup and regain possession. A few minutes later, Anthony Gardner brought down Carlos Vela on the right hand side. From the resultant free kick, Van Persie whipped in a delicious free kick, which was well defended by Hull.

A rather uninspiring opening period was quickly turned on its head when Hull City took a shock lead. Andy Dawson, already exerting dominance on the left side, looped a ball into the Arsenal area which was allowed to bounce. Nick Barmby managed to twist and strike a fierce volley off the right boot of the hapless Djourou, and over the despairing dive of Fabianski.

As a stunned Emirates remained in silence, Arsenal looked for an immediate reply; a Gibbs cross and a Van Persie corner both brilliantly defended by the visitors. In the 23rd minute, Gallas brought down Peter Halmosi in Geovanni range. The Brazilian struck a fierce free kick from 25 yards, only to see it expertly tipped over by Fabianski.

The shortly worked corner was then fired into the area where Barmby tapped home; the effort correctly ruled out for offside. Soon after, Arshavin was beginning to pull the strings for Arsenal, but committed work from both Manucho and Dawson exemplified the battling attitude of Phil Brown's side.

On the half hour, a deft Arshavin flick was picked up by Van Persie, who screwed his shot wide. A minute later, the Russian danced his way inside Hull's area, where his shot was deflected wide. Although Arsenal were in the ascendancy, Hull showed their desire to extend their lead when Kamil Zayatte headed over from four yards from Halmosi's left-footed inswinging free; a big let-off for the otherwise faultless Gibbs who had rashly bundled over Craig Fagan.

As Arsenal's dominance grew, aside from a few moments of individual brilliance from Arshavin, they failed to seriously test Myhill in the Hull goal. On 52 minutes, Abou Diaby was guilty of wasting perhaps Arsenal's best chance when failing to convert Arshavin's cross. Moments later, Alexandre Song found a yard of space inside the box, twisting and sending his shot narrowly wide.

With the tempo increased, but clear chances still at a premium, Wenger sent on Samir Nasri and Bendtner for Song and the ineffective Carlos Vela. In the 69th minute, Barmby conceded a free kick 30 yards out, which Myhill did well to push wide from Van Persie's effort, low to his right. Moments later, Van Persie headed Nasri's cross onto the crossbar, as Hull continued to frustrate.

However, their luck ran out after 74 minutes when Theo Walcott's cross found Bendtner, whose initial effort was blocked by Bryan Hughes. First to react, the Dane waltzed past Gardner and sent the ball across the face of the goal. Unmarked, Arshavin had the presence of mind to square inside and find Van Persie to smash the ball into the roof of the net, nothing more than Arsenal had deserved.

Three minutes later, Manucho managed to flick on a long ball into the path of Geovanni, who managed to smash a volley from an awkward angle onto the side of the post. It was the last attack of any note from the Tigers, as Arsenal continued to press.

Six minutes from time, Nasri sent in a free kick which Myhill came for and missed, Emmanuel Eboue getting there before the goalkeeper. Gallas, clearly offside, was left with the simple task of heading into an empty goal. Arsenal pressed to make sure of the win; Bendtner forcing a brilliant save from Myhill, whilst Eboue wasted an opportunity following good work from Nasri and Bacary Sagna.

With 5 minutes of injury time to be played, Hull managed a few brief forays into the opposition half, but Arsenal comfortably held on to set up a semi-final clash with Chelsea at Wembley next month. Although Phil Brown's side will feel aggrieved at the manner in which Arsenal made it 2-1, the result was a fair reflection on a dominant Gunners display.

Arsenal: Fabianski; Sagna; Gallas; Djourou; Gibbs; Walcott (Eboue 82); Song (Bendtner 64); Diaby; Arshavin; Vela (Nasri 64); Van Persie.

Booked: Gallas, Nasri.

Hull City: Myhill; Ricketts; Gardner; Zayatte; Dawson; Ashbee (Hughes 46); Barmby (France 76); Geovanni; Fagan; Halmosi (Mendy 67); Manucho.

Booked: Myhill, Dawson, France, Halmosi, Manucho.

Attendance: 55, 641

Referee: Mike Riley

My Man of the Match: Andrey Arshavin

Win, lose or FA Cup draw.

You may be wondering where the latest update is, with a bumper weekend of sport still ongoing. Fear not, it's here. Before I start, a thank you to everyone who has offered up invaluable advice. I will endeavour to take it all on board, but please keep the feedback and comments coming. Cheers.

Overloaded FA Cup draw awaits.

Saturday gave the term 'FA Cup Draw' a whole new meaning - eight teams have to do it all over again. With the slight possibility of another draw today at Pride Park and the fact that Arsenal and Cardiff have yet to complete their fourth round tie (Burnley await the winners), we already have a guaranteed 14 teams in tonight's quarter-final draw. We may even be faced with the prospect of having 15 teams gunning for 8 places, something which can't happen too often.

Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Portsmouth got back to winning ways for the first time since the end of November. Caretaker boss Paul Hart says he is only concentrating on the next game. My reading of the situation is that Hart might remain until the end of the season. Otherwise, the shrewd appointment of Brian Kidd will simply have been needless. Portsmouth's next seven games include matches with Stoke (a), Middlesbrough (a), Hull (a), West Brom (h) and Bolton (h). I expect them to have enough quality to climb away from the dogfight below, and Portsmouth to stick with Hart and Kidd until the summer, at least.

Anguish in Antigua.

Friday the 13th probably passed by quietly for most of us. Not for those in Antigua awaiting the Second Test between the Windies and England. After 10 deliveries, it was abundantly clear that the bowler's run-up was unsafe, to say the least. It was a pity. In a part of the world where cricket is paramount, and in a stadium celebrating a legend of the game, Friday's events were farcical. A hastily arranged Third Test has now started, with England making a bright start.

I can't understand, however, the decision to twice put England in to bat after winning the toss. After England's embarrassing First Test collapse, it would have made sense to me for the West Indies to get out and post a decent score, all the while giving England plenty of time to reflect on their batting. Instead, Chris Gayle has given the English a chance to get out quickly and banish the memory, and England have duly obliged (this time around). It's good to see that the selectors, however, have not found any reason to bring Ian Bell back, and Owais Shah will get his chance. With the pitch offering little for the bowlers, and rain forecast over the next few days, the 5/6 being offered by Boylesports makes that my first Banker of the Week.

Murray's mint performance.

Tennis now, and Andy Murray has beaten an obviously distressed Rafael Nadal in the final of the creatively named World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. Nadal was clearly injured and stuggling in the final set, Murray winning 6-3 4-6 6-0. It's a pity to see Nadal hurt, but testament to his character that he stayed out and fought all the way. Murray, meanwhile, is impressing time after time this season. Nadal will be strong favourite at Roland Garros, but he and Roger Federer will rightly be worrying about Murray's form should it continue towards Wimbledon and the US Open.

Two Nations continues.

England may have been heavily criticised for their performance against Italy, but they showed a lot of spirit in yesterday's RBS Six Nations clash with Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Wales' class told in the end, but it offers some much needed encouragement for Martin Johnson and his men. Scotland lost in Paris, another fighting display, and they will offer plenty of resistance for the rest of the tournament. And Ireland saw off a distinctly average Italian side in Rome, bringing to conclusion another weekend that suggests the clash between Wales and Ireland in Cardiff may well decide who this year's champions will be.

So, another substantial if unspectacular sporting weekend continues with the Milan derby tonight, after the FA Cup quarter-final draw is made. Last year, I correctly pointed Portsmouth out as potential winners (albeit to a couple of friends), so this year I offer you another outsider - Everton. They've been really impressive of late, and with a bit of luck they could lift the cup for the first time since Paul Rideout's winner in 1995.