Benni blast blows out Gunners

Blackburn 1 Arsenal 0

The South African striker — surprisingly left on the bench by boss Mark Hughes — responded by tearing down the left flank and firing an unstoppable 87th-minute winner past Manuel Almunia.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes, whose side now face Manchester City at Ewood Park in the quarter-finals, hailed South African striker McCarthy for his match-winning intervention.

“I think the goal deserved to win any game,” he said. “Benni brings world-class quality and he’s shown that all through the season. What a good decision from the manager to bring him on as an impact player!”

It was a roaring ending to a fifth-round display punctuated by Graham Poll’s whistle and seldom generated any incidents for Wenger’s team to get fractious about.

“We were never under pressure and we had lots of chances to score, but we didn’t take them,” said Wenger.

“It’s difficult to take over the two games. We needed to be ruthless, but we were also bit unlucky over the two matches with decisions.”

Wenger had responded to his side’s Carling Cup Final loss by making four changes to his line-up including promoting defender Emmanuel Eboue despite his FA charge for violent conduct.

It took the Gunners 22 minutes to create their first chance, when Eboue played in Jeremie Aliadiere, who fell over the advancing Brad Friedel and had half-hearted penalty appeals waved away.

The visitors had a much stronger penalty appeal turned down by Poll in the 28th minute after Freddie Ljungberg’s run into the box was cut out by Emerton from behind.

“It looked a clear penalty,” said Wenger afterwards.

Julio Baptista should have put Arsenal ahead on the half-hour after the Gunners were presented with a dangerous free-kick 25 yards out from goal on the right flank.

Denilson floated the ball into the box where the unmarked Baptista rose highest but directed a simple header over the bar with Friedel beaten.

Armand Traore was the first man to enter Poll’s book for late foul from behind on Bentley, before Pedersen’s trademark swirling free-kick was saved by Almunia.

Rovers might have snatched the lead just before the break when Tugay dispossessed Denilson but his attempt to play Matt Derbyshire clear was well cut out by Senderos.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes made one change at half-time with Stephen Warnock replaced by Zurab Khizanishvili in a straight defensive swap.

The scrappy nature of the game continued after the break but Rovers enjoyed good possession and might have gone ahead had Shabani Nonda managed to meet David Bentley’s low cross in the 50th minute.

But Baptista came close again for the Gunners two minutes later when he picked up Alexander Hleb’s pass just outside the box and screwed a rising left-foot effort inches over Friedel’s bar.

As both sides began to create chances Pedersen should have hit the target after sneaking behind the Gunners defence following a quick free-kick, but fired high and wide of target. The Gunners made their first change on the hour, with Carling Cup goalscorer Theo Walcott on for Eboue, before Hughes responded with a double change, McCarthy and David Dunn on for Tugay and Nonda.

McCarthy was not able to make an immediate impression with Baptista coming close from long range for the visitors, who seemed destined to drag the tie into extra-time.

But it was to prove Hughes’ matchwinning decision, as McCarthy latched onto his fellow substitute’s through-ball, cut inside Senderos and fired jubilant Rovers into a date with Manchester City on March 11.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock (Khizanishvili 46), Bentley, Kerimoglu (Dunn 63), Mokoena, Pedersen, Nonda (McCarthy 63), Derbyshire.

ARSENAL: Almunia, Eboue (Walcott 61), Senderos, Gallas, Traore (Clichy 66), Hleb, Denilson, Silva, Ljungberg, Aliadiere, Julio Baptista.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Last night: Tennents Scottish Cup fifth round replay: Motherwell 1 St Johnstone 2.