Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side have drawn with Bolton, and now Blackburn in this season’s tournament, claimed it was time replays were scrapped from the oldest domestic up competition because of difficulties big clubs in particular have in fitting the extra games into a packed fixture calendar.

Wenger received support from Newcastle counterpart Glenn Roeder, while Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson said he could see merit in the suggestion, even though he added the concept of replays should continue because most clubs wanted it to.

However, the FA have said the topic has not even come up for discussion and, with a peak of 7.9 million people tuning in to watch Arsenal’s thrilling extra-time win over Bolton on BBC1 last Wednesday – one million more than saw ’The Brits’, Soho Square officials believe the appetite for replays remains.

“There are no plans to abolish replays,” said FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.

“We are not aware of any discussions that have taken place regarding this matter.

“Replays are part of the heritage and tradition that makes the FA Cup magical.”

Three of this weekend’s eight ties will require a second game, with Arsenal’s trip to Blackburn on February 28 and Reading’s home encounter with Manchester United the previous night both selected for live TV screening.

And, while the continuing policy of some clubs to field weakened sides in the competition has attracted some negative publicity, the FA have been happy to note the average crowd figure this weekend – 34,123 – is the highest recorded for the fifth round in 27 years.

The quarter-final draw that pitches Coca-Cola Championship side Plymouth into battle with Watford, as well as being a repeat of the 1984 semi-final, also ensures at least one unfashionable side will make it to the last four.