In a pulsating cup tie at Ewood Park, Arsenal’s second string proves their mental toughness and superior technical ability by overcoming a stirring comeback from a spirited Blackburn rovers.

Arsenal began impressively, thoroughly outclassing rovers in a master-class of wengerball. The first goal coming from the left boot of the notoriously right-footed Diaby, elegantly set up by Randall and Bendtner. At this point Arsenal was entrancing Blackburn could not get near the ball.

Bendtner hit the bar with an audacious chip, Diarra was Hlebesque™ dictating play in the midfield. Fabianski was tested and made a good save from Dunn before Arsenal got their second.

Denilson found Eduardo with a probing pass which Samba should have intercepted. The crozillian slotted home with his deft left foot. The game was shaping up to be a rout, until the linesman assistant referee allowed a clearly offside Derbyshire to cross for Santa Cruz pulling one back for Blackburn just before the half-time whistle.

Blackburn was in the game now, it was they who asked the questions of the young gunners. Bentley whipped in a testing free-kick for Santa Cruz to head in his second goal for the night. The momentum now swung in Blackburn’s favour, this Arsenal team had to dig deep and show character if they were to survive the night.

It was now a real tussle between the teams and it looked like Blackburn would edge it but the third goal proved elusive for both teams. Denilson was sent of for an ill advised tackle, the red card was just. Full-time ended at 2-2.

With Arsenal reduced to 10 men Blackburn would have fancied their chances to to win the game. It was Arsenal who came out the better team in extra time, The Blackburn of the second half did not show up. Song drove through the middle of the park to find Eduardo who showed his clinical finishing skills to win the game for Arsenal.

Wenger was pleased with his team saying

“When our football was not working we had to show character – and at 10 v 11 we found resources to score a third goal to win the game.”

on Denilson

“He didn’t touch him, but he should not have done that challenge. It was a red card.”

Mark Hughes in his program notes was spot on

“Arsenal do not possess fringe players these days, merely a formidable second team.”

He would have done well to leave it couldn’t help himself

“People call them kids nut the lad who scored the winner cost £11 million so these so-called kids don’t come cheap do they?”

A great result for Arsenal, these youngsters would have learnt more from this game than the 10 reserve team matches.