Hoult’s howler gifts Gunners

West Brom 0 Arsenal 2

The West Brom goalkeeper gifted Jeremie Aliadiere the chance to sweep Arsenal into the last four early in a second half twice delayed by injuries to officials.

Kanu had given Arsene Wenger's men the lead against the run of play in the first half against the determined Nationwide Division One leaders.

The second-half was delayed for 15 minutes when linesman Trevor Massey was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Frantic tannoy appeals eventually unearthed Dermot Gallagher as a replacement fourth official and later there was a further delay when referee Matt Messias hobbled to the touchline for treatment to a calf strain.

In the first half, Messias ruled out a James O'Connor strike for marginal offside and denied the home side two clear-cut penalty appeals.

West Brom seeking a third successive major scalp after disposing of Manchester United and Newcastle in the two previous rounds had dominated large swathes of the game.

But old-stager Kanu swept the largely youthful Gunners ahead in the 24th minute and Arsene Wenger's men ultimately eased home.

Albion had started brightly despite missing influential midfielder Jason Koumas through injury.

And they must have believed they were on the verge of another notable success as Arsene Wenger's youngsters struggled to assert their authority.

Bernt Haas' fifth minute run into the box was stopped by the impressive Stathis Tavlaridis and Kanu bundled clear Neil Clement's 13th-minute cross. Scott Dobie poked a close-range shot wide two minutes later when play had already been halted for an infringement.

Clement caught the corner of the crossbar with a 19th-minute cross shortly after O'Connor finished off a move on the right by heading home after Messias had blown for offside.

Albion's pressure continued when Dobie raced onto Joost Volmer's hopeful punt forward and almost got clear but for another fine saving challenge from Tavlaridis.

The Gunners offered little more than fancy footwork until Kanu stabbed home Lauren's cross from close range at the second attempt.

Hulse had Albion's first chance of the delayed second half when he got behind the visitors' defence onto Joost Volmer's through-ball only for Stack to deflect his rising shot behind for a corner.

Substitute Lee Hughes missed a better chance when he was sent clear by Ronnie Wallwork's clever back-heel but blazed over the bar.

Sadly for the home side their hopes were ended in the 56th minute when Hoult tapped the ball towards full-back Clement without noticing Aliadiere loitering near the box.

WEST BROM: Hoult, Gregan, Gaardsoe, Volmer (Gilchrist 65), Haas, O'Connor (Sakiri 71), Wallwork, Johnson (Hughes 39), Clement, Hulse, Dobie.

ARSENAL: Stack, Lauren, Keown, Tavlaridis, Clichy, Wiltord, Parlour, Edu, Bentley (Thomas 81), Aliadiere (Fabregas Soler 73), Kanu.

Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).