SOCCER/Blackburn 2 Arsenal 3 (after extra time):Arsène Wenger's reserves showed reserves of character to finally oust Blackburn Rovers from the League Cup on their own Ewood Park ground.

A goal in the first half of extra time by Eduardo, his second of the match, sent the visitors through to the semi-finals.

It is now the norm to expect flair and panache from whatever Arsenal side Wenger unveils but here last night they showed a new face: vulnerability. Comfortable and cruising against Mark Hughes's team, they squandered a two-goal lead to Roque Santa Cruz as he struck twice to take this quarter-final to extra time.

To make matters worse, Denilson was then sent off for a two-footed lunge on David Dunn. This was not in the script for Wenger's remarkable production line.

The Blackburn manager stressed in his programme notes that Arsenal do not possess fringe players these days, merely a formidable second team, and it was a prophetic analysis as Wenger's League Cup ensemble initially dominated their more experienced hosts. One win in seven matchesensured confidence was fragile at Ewood and the visitors exploited that weakness before Hughes's team established a feel for the tie.

Arsenal were stylish and expansive and made Blackburn appear pedestrian in the tackle and on the ball by comparison. The Gunners were in front after only six minutes and two up inside the half hour, and were only undermined by a suspicious offside call when Rovers dragged themselves back into the tie before the interval.

First to the fore were Nicklas Bendtner and Abou Diaby, who relished his unorthodox role on the left wing. A neat interchange down the right enabled Mark Randall to release the Danish striker behind the Rovers' backline and his chip across the penalty area fell perfectly for Diaby to volley into the ground and send the ball looping over Brad Friedel.

The pair combined again to prise apart the Blackburn defence moments later only for Bendtner to strike the bar with a lofted shot via his instep.

Not until David Dunn forced a fine save from Lukasz Fabianski in the 28th minute did the home side threaten.

Arsenal's movement and strength made for a chastening first half for Blackburn. "Get into 'em," came the chants from the home terraces.

It was a struggle for Blackburn just to get close to them. Another piercing pass through their rearguard brought the visitors a merited two-goal lead when Denilson put Eduardo clear.

Christopher Samba could not intercept at full stretch, and the Croatian - one of six internationals in an Arsenal side with an average age of 20 years and six months - calmly slotted beyond Friedel.

Just before the interval, however, Blackburn built a platform for an impressive second-half recovery.

David Bentley released Dunn on the right and, having appeared fractionally offside when the ball was played, the Blackburn midfielder crossed low for Santa Cruz to convert at close range.

The Paraguayan almost drew Blackburn level at the start of the second half as they finally began to show the tenacity and touch that has taken them to three semi-finals in the past three seasons. He beat Fabianski to a Robbie Savage through ball only for the Arsenal goalkeeper to make a vital touch on the edge of his area. It was enough to distract Santa Cruz and enabled Alex Song to clear, but Blackburn's leading scorer this term was in the same confident vein that reduced a three-goal lead at Wigan on Saturday.

On the hour, and having been outplayed for most of it, Blackburn equalised when Santa Cruz met an inswinging free-kick from Bentley with a soaring leap and a textbook header past Fabianski.

Having struck three at the JJB Stadium only to finish on the losing side, the former Bayern Munich striker evidently did not wish to repeat the feat as he spread uncertainty throughout the Arsenal defence.

The visitors continued to orchestrate chances with Philippe Senderos inches from converting a Denilson free-kick, but their opponents were unrecognisable from the side handed a lesson before the break.

BLACKBURN:Friedel, Reid, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Savage, Dunn (Mokoena 105), Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Derbyshire (McCarthy 90). Subs not used:Brown, Khizanishvili, Roberts. Booked:Reid, Savage.

ARSENAL:Fabianski, Justin Hoyte, Senderos, Song Billong, Traore, Randall (Barazite 80), Diaby, Denilson, Diarra, Eduardo (Gibbs 115), Bendtner. Subs not used:Mannone, Gavin Hoyte, Perez. Booked:Diarra, Denilson, Eduardo. Sent off:Denilson.

Referee:Mike Riley (Yorkshire).