Holder Arsenal was dumped out of the FA Cup by Watford Sunday, while Anthony Martial's 83rd-minute goal earned Manchester United a 1-1 draw with West Ham United. Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura ended Arsenal's two-year reign as FA Cup holders as Watford won 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to join Crystal Palace and Everton in the semifinals. Manchester United looked set to follow Arsenal out of the competition after Dimitri Payet put West Ham ahead with a stunning freekick at Old Trafford, but French forward Martial spared manager Louis van Gaal from another wave of unflattering headlines with a late volleyed equalizer. "Our fantastic run has come to an end on a day where we felt that our performance deserved a win," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side replied through substitute Danny Welbeck in the 88th minute. "Credit to Watford, they created few chances, but took them all. It's sad because we gave everything." Triumphant in the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015, Arsenal was beaten in the competition for the first time since a 1-0 fifth-round defeat by Blackburn Rovers in February 2013. It left it facing the prospect of a trophyless season, with Wenger's side — booed off at the final whistle — eight points off the pace in the Premier League and 2-0 down to Barcelona ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last 16 return leg at Camp Nou. Wenger named a strong team to for the visit of Watford, but despite dominating possession Arsenal struggled to create chances in the first half, with Mohamed Elneny sweeping one effort over the bar. Arsenal center-back Gabriel, meanwhile, was very fortunate to escape without even a booking after flying into a two-footed challenge on Troy Deeney with his studs raised. Watford made the breakthrough in the 50th minute as Deeney flicked a left-wing throw-in to Ighalo, who turned, held off Gabriel and beat David Ospina with a low shot. The visitors extended their advantage 13 minutes later in stunning fashion as Guedioura met Deeney's lay-off with a blistering strike that flew from his right foot into the top-right corner. Welbeck reduced the arrears in the 88th minute, finishing neatly after a one-two with Mesut Ozil, but then squandered a golden chance to equalize by shooting wide of an open goal from Kieran Gibbs's pass. Reeling from last Thursday's 2-0 loss at Liverpool in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie, United welcomed West Ham to Old Trafford needing victory to rekindle its season. But Slaven Bilic's visitors created the better first-half chances, with Emmanuel Emenike shooting wide from Andy Carroll's lobbed pass and heading straight at David de Gea from Aaron Cresswell's cross. West Ham took the lead in the 68th minute when French playmaker Payet confirmed his status as one of the players of the season by arcing a picture-perfect 30-yard free-kick over the wall and in off the left-hand post. But with nails being chewed to the quick by the home fans, Martial kept United in the competition by charging in to convert Ander Herrera's right-wing cross with a close-range volley. Michail Antonio almost restored West Ham's lead in stoppage time, but De Gea turned his low strike around the post to send the tie to a replay. Kane scores twice to boost Spurs' title hopes Harry Kane scored his 21st and 22nd goals of the season to inspire Tottenham Hotspur to a routine win at hapless Aston Villa that boosted their Premier League title ambitions. The England striker ended Villa's resistance just before halftime with his 17th goal in his last 20 league appearances and then struck again just after the break, assisted on each occasion by a superb delivery from Dele Alli. The victory for Spurs consigned bottom-placed Villa to a 20th league defeat of the season while Mauricio Pochettino's side moved two points adrift of leaders Leicester City at the top of the table. Second-placed Spurs also extended its lead over their north London rival Arsenal, in third place, to six points. Leicester has the chance to restore its five-point lead when it hosts struggling Newcastle United Monday. For Villa, though, relegation looks a certainty as it stays eight points adrift of 19th-placed Newcastle at the foot of the table.
