Chelsea FC and Aston Villa FC will meet in the last four of the FA Cup after both recorded quarter-final victories, on a day when Everton beat Hull City AFC to move up to eighth in the Premier League.

Everton had lost their last two fixtures following a post-Christmas resurgence but they went ahead on 17 minutes against third-bottom Hull, Mikel Arteta volleying in for his first goal since February last year. By the time the Spaniard was able to add his second on 39 minutes, Yakubu had spurned a penalty and Hull had briefly drawn level through Tom Cairney (32). Richard Garcia turned into his own net six minutes after half-time, however, before on-loan forward Landon Donovan and 18-year-old Jack Rodwell both struck late on to complete the scoring.

David Moyes' side were beaten by Chelsea in last season's FA Cup final and the Blues are on course to retain their trophy after triumphing 2-0 against Stoke City FC. Frank Lampard's hammered shot set them on their way ten minutes before the break and John Terry's firm header doubled the deficit midway through the second half, with both efforts taking deflections en route to Thomas Sørensen's net.

Aston Villa FC, defeated by Manchester United FC in last weekend's League Cup final, recovered from a 2-0 half-time deficit to beat second-tier Reading FC 4-2 and advance closer to another showpiece. Two Shane Long goals gave the hosts an ominous advantage, but Villa halved their arrears two minutes after the break through Ashley Young.

John Carew then came to the fore, heading in Stewart Downing's cross on 51 minutes and cleverly turning in Stephen Warnock's low ball six minutes later. An added-time penalty completed the Norwegian's hat-trick and a remarkable turnaround for the visitors, who will face Chelsea on 10 or 11 April. The other semi-final will pit Tottenham Hotspur FC or Fulham FC against Portsmouth FC.