FA Cup Round-Up: Watford stun holders Arsenal, whilst Lukaku fires Everton to Wembley

Watford shell shocked defending FA Cup holders Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to book their place in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The Hornets went ahead shortly after the break when star striker Odion Ighalo finally ended his goal drought after going 599 minutes without finding the back of the net, before a devastatingly ferocious long-range shot from visiting midfielder Adlene Guedioura almost ripped the Gunners’ net to double the away side’s advantage after 63 minutes.

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez sees his effort on goal blocked by Watford defender Nathan Ake.

Hosts boss Arsene Wenger threw on England international Danny Welbeck late on to try and rescue the tie, with the 25-year-old bagging Arsenal’s eventual consolation with just two minutes remaining, although the forward missed a glorious chance to earn his side a replay after thrashing the ball wide of an open goal with just seconds remaining.

Joining Watford in the last-four of the competition is Everton after Belgium international striker Romelu Lukaku fired the Toffees towards silverware success with a brilliant brace against his former club Chelsea to seal a 2-0 home win at Goodison Park.

The 22-year-old opened the scoring with just 13 minutes remaining after a sensational solo goal against the visiting Blues, who were soon in double trouble as Lukaku was again on hand to fire past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a fine low drive just five minutes later.

Already two-nil down; Guus Hiddink’s away side were then reduced to ten-men as striker Diego Costa received his first red card in a Chelsea jersey after appearing to make contact with Everton midfielder Gareth Barry’s neck after an ongoing feud with the Toffees ace throughout the match.

Everton talisman Lukaku has now scored 25 goals in all competitions this season.

However Barry himself was later dismissed after bringing down Cesc Fabregas for his second yellow card of the game just moments later.

The FA Cup’s earliest clash over the footballing weekend saw Championship outfit Reading bow out at the quarter-final stage after Crystal Palace walked away from the Madejski Stadium 2-0 victors on Friday night.

The Premier League outfit pulled off a late, late show to waltz their way into the semi-finals at Wembley after two goals in the final five minutes cost the Royals their second successive appearance in the last-four.

Despite being without a league win in 2016; Alan Pardew’s visitors opened the deadlock after 85 minutes from the penalty spot after defender Jake Cooper pulled back winger Yannick Bolasie in the 18-yard area, a last-ditch challenge which saw the Reading player earn a straight red card.

France international Yohan Cabaye did the honours and beat Royals ‘keeper Ali Al-Habsi from the spot.

Then deep into injury-time, the Eagles sealed their spot in the last-four as substitute Frazier Campbell tapped home a second goal for the away side, capitalising on the slice of luck he created himself after Al-Habsi parried his initial effort onto the post before the ball rolled across the face of goal.

And finally; Manchester United and West Ham United will face each other once more in an FA Cup quarter-final replay to determine the last side to reach the semi-finals after this initial all-Premier League clash ended 1-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Anthony Martial’s late equaliser saved the Red Devils’ blushes after midfield maestro Dimitri Payet looked to have fired the Hammers through to Wembley in their final campaign at the Boleyn Ground.

Instead they will return to their iconic stadium for one last cup tie as the Frenchman’s wonderful 68th minute free-kick was cancelled out by Martial’s neat finish from a tight angle with just seven minutes remaining.