McCarthy's goal packs Arsenal off

LONDON - BENNI McCarthy struck a sensational late winner against Arsenal at Ewood Park on Wednesday to send Blackburn into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

After the 1-0 win for Rovers, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger moaned at the injustice of it all.

He claimed his side were denied penalties against Blackburn, who did not deserve to win.

The defeat meant that for a second time in a week, Arsenal have been dumped out of a cup competition.

On Sunday, they lost 1-2 to Chelsea in the League Cup final, which saw Emmanuel Adebayor and Kole Toure dismissed.

Their suspensions added to a lengthy injury list, which included Justin Hoyte, Abou Diaby, Thierry Henry, Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie.

Things were so bad that Arsenal turned up against Blackburn with Gavin Hoyte, younger brother of Justin, on the bench, reported The Independent.

At 16 years and 268 days, he would have been the club's youngest player in the FA Cup.

But Wednesday's finger of blame has to be be pointed at the Frenchman himself.

His decision to push the less- than-mobile centre-half, Philippe Senderos, to right-back in the second half in place of the fading Eboue, was a gamble that backfired.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes immediately ordered attackers like substitute McCarthy to run at the Swiss player.

Three minutes from time, the South African turned Senderos inside out and sped into the box.

McCarthy's finishing was special and the ball rocketed past goalkeeper Manuel Almunia for his 16th goal of the season.

'It was a world-class goal,' said Hughes, whose own season is in the balance after the disappointing Uefa Cup exit to Bayer Leverkusen a week earlier,

'Of late, his performances have not had the usual spark, so I felt he needed a break. What a good decision it looks like now.

'That goal was good enough to win any match.'

Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel also deserved an equal share of the limelight for two magnificent saves from Julio Baptista.

Wenger moaned that Blackburn's win was merely the result of 'the only chance they had in 180 minutes. And I don't think Blackburn created anything on purpose'.

The first tie had finished 0-0, but Hughes made no apologies for his decision to play for a draw then at The Emirates.

'I always felt our best chance was to bring them here,' he said.

The two managers also squabbled on the touchline.

Wenger grabbed the ball as it rolled into touch and prevented Morten Gamst Pedersen from taking a quick throw-in.

It was an inflammatory gesture and Hughes said: 'He just kept it a bit longer than he should have.'

Wenger was also concerned with two penalty appeals that were turned down for his team in the first half.

The first came when Jeremie Aliadiere threw himself to the ground after knocking the ball past Friedel's dive. Referee Graham Poll, quite rightly, was having none of it.

Then Freddie Ljungberg fell theatrically after feeling the hand of Brett Emerton on his shoulder.

Blackburn can prepare for the visit of Manchester City on March 11, and dream of a Wembley date in May.