GAMES are never dull where Rovers are concerned and that proved to be the case once again as Arsenal came out winners at Ewood Park, but it required extra-time to do so.

Goals galore and a fight back on Saturday was followed by yet another comeback, but Rovers ultimately came up short despite another second half revival.

It certainly didn't look on the cards as Rovers were given a footballing masterclass for long periods in the first half as Arsenal's youngsters cut the home side apart. Abou Diaby side-footed the ball over Friedel to give Arsene Wenger's side the lead after just six minutes, and it looked ominous when Eduardo capitalised on a Samba error to double the lead on the half hour.

But just before the break Rovers grabbed a lifeline when Roque Santa Cruz poked home Derbyshire's low cross.

Boosted by that it was Rovers who then dominated the next forty-five minutes with Roque Santa Cruz deservedly heading Rovers level on the hour to make it five goals from his last two games.

For all their pressure Rovers couldn't grab that elusive winner in normal time, and despite being a man down after Denilson had been sent off for a tackle on Dunn it was Arsenal who grabbed the fifth and winning goal when Song's through ball was perfect for Eduardo who beat Friedel.

Desperate blocks denied Samba and Pedersen within seconds of each other, and when defender Samba hit a post with seconds left on the clock you just knew it wasn't to be Rovers' night so it will be Arsenal who'll go into the last four of the competition.

Whilst Arsene Wenger made eleven changes from the side that defeated Chelsea on Sunday, Mark Hughes resisted the temptation to do likewise. Just two changes were made from the Rovers boss, David Dunn and Matt Derbyshire in for Brett Emerton and Benni McCarthy.

Having shipped five goals against Wigan at the weekend, the worst thing Rovers wanted was to go behind early on but alas that was the case once again, just six minutes were on the clock as Arsenal took the lead, and it came from their first foray into the Rovers danger area.

A throw on the right from Justin Hoyte was played to Mark Randall and he slipped the ball through to Nicolas Bendtner on the right of the area, the Danish international sent over a delightful ball that caught out Steven Reid at the back post allowing Abou Diaby to curl a wonderful side-footed effort on the half-volley past the despairing grasp of Brad Friedel and high into the back of the net.

With Rovers shell-shocked Arsenal could have doubled their lead three minutes later. Again it was the impressive Diaby involved as he played a one-two with Bendtner to send the Arsenal striker through into the left of the area, but with the angle getting ever tighter, his delicate lob was unfortunate to clip the top of the crossbar and away to safety.

Rovers were no match for Arsenal's young side, you could almost say it was boys against men, whilst the Gunners were passing the ball about with ease, the home side struggled to get any momentum to their play, more often than not reduced to long balls played forward for Santa Cruz and Derbyshire to chase.

But despite this the home side did test Lukasz Fabianski in the Arsenal goal with two efforts in a minute. A move down the left saw Morten Gamst Pedersen deliver the ball to the back post, Steven Reid got his head to the ball to knock it into the path of David Dunn, he shifted the ball onto his left foot and fired low through the crowd but Fabianski was alert to push the ball around the post.

From the resulting corner kick David Bentley fired low to the near post, but the Polish number one again made a comfortable save.

But that was mere respite for Rovers as they were soon on the back foot and another goal down. Denilson's forward pass should have been dealt with comfortably by Christopher Samba, but the giant defender missed the ball completely allowing Eduardo the chance to double Arsenal's lead and he duly obliged, steering the ball low past a helpless Brad Friedel.

As the half wore on Mark Hughes made a tactical switch that started to pay off with Rovers seeing more of the ball, Matt Derbyshire - who started alongside Santa Cruz up front - was moved further out to the flanks, with David Bentley operating in a more advanced role, and it seemed to work.

On Saturday against Wigan it is safe to say that Rovers did not get the rub of the green when it came to decisions, but three minutes before the break a piece of luck finally came the way of the Ewood club. David Bentley fed the ball out to Derbyshire and his low centre was poked home by Roque Santa Cruz for his fourth goal in two games, replays showed the Derbyshire was in an offside position when Bentley played the ball to him but the goal stood.

That goal late in the first half gave Rovers renewed enthusiasm at the start of the second. Just two minutes after the restart a delightful pass from David Dunn saw Santa Cruz chase the ball towards goal, he reached it before Fabianski, but the Pole made a brilliant stop on the edge of his area with his hand, but before the Rovers striker could pick himself up to put the ball into the empty net, Alex Song was there to clear away the danger.

Unlike the first half, Rovers were able to keep that momentum going. Nicklas Bendtner almost headed David Bentley's free-kick into the back of his own net, the Arsenal striker relieved to turn around to see the ball land on the roof of the net. From the resulting corner kick Matt Derbyshire saw his close-range header cleared off the line.

But on the hour mark the pressure finally told. Randall fouled Warnock on the left side, Bentley sent over another inviting centre and Roque Santa Cruz was there to power home the header for his eleventh goal of the season.

The contrast from the first half couldn't be more different, suddenly Rovers were playing with purpose, they were first to the challenge, picking up the second balls, and most importantly getting themselves into excellent attacking positions.

On 65 minutes a curling Pedersen cross was almost claimed by Santa Cruz, his outstretched leg just failing to get decent purchase, then Robbie Savage did well to keep a bouncing effort down, but the ball flashed a couple of yards wide.

As the game entered its final stages the match got more fractious and the cards started to be shown, Denilson and Diarra were carded for Arsenal, Reid for Rovers also saw yellow.

Matt Derbyshire could have stopped tie going into extra time when Song's clearance deflected into his path, but his effort was deflected for a corner off Senderos.

But it was Roque Santa Cruz who had the best chance, David Bentley's free-kick to the back post was headed back across by Ryan Nelsen, but with his second hat-trick inside four days beckoning he mis-kicked the ball down into the ground and Fabianski was allowed to claim.

Rovers poured forward in an attempt to stop the game needing more time, but their final attacking move of the ninety saw a terrible challenge on David Dunn by Denilson. After the usual pushing and shoving had subsided, Mike Riley issued a straight red to the Brazilian midfielder, whilst Robbie Savage was shown a yellow card for his part in the melee.

Arsenal were then dealt another blow when substitute Nacer Barazite was stretchered off after a collision with David Dunn, it resulted in a lengthy delay before the seventeen year-old Dutchman was helped from the field of play.

But the visitors didn't let their heads drop and regained the lead with 104 minutes on the clock, Rovers' flimsy offside trap was broken by Eduardo and he raced onto Alex Song's through ball to beat Friedel with ease. It left Rovers having to once again come from behind but this time they would fail.

As the first period of extra-time drew to a close a Bentley free-kick was cleared only to Morten Gamst Pedersen, but whilst he struck the ball spectacularly on the volley, it lacked the accuracy required and flew high into the Arsenal fans behind Fabianski's goal.

The momentum of play was firmly towards Fabianski's goal in the final period, but there was to be no way back for Rovers. Chris Samba and Morten Gamst Pedersen both saw close-range efforts blocked, then with mere seconds left on the clock there was even time for Samba to head against the post after being teed up by Pedersen.

Brad Friedel came up for the resulting corner kick, but there was to be no further dramatics and it will be Arsenal who will have their name in the hat when the semi-final draw is made.

ROVERS: Friedel, Reid, Samba, Nelsen (c), Warnock (sub Khizanishvili 120 mins), Bentley, Savage, Dunn (sub Mokoena 105 mins), Pedersen, Derbyshire (sub McCarthy 90mins), Santa Cruz.

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Roberts.

ARSENAL: Fabianski, Diaby, Senderos (c), Diarra, Eduardo (sub Gibbs 116 mins), Denilson, Song, Bendtner, Traore, J. Hoyte, Randall (sub Barazite 80 mins (sub Merida 101 mins)).

Subs not used: Mannone (GK), G. Hoyte.

Booked: Warnock, Samba, Reid, Savage (Rovers), Randall, Denilson, Diarra, Traore (Arsenal)

Sent off: Denilson (Arsenal)

Attendance: 16,207

Peter Jackson Man of the match: Roque Santa Cruz.