Wenger hails 'mental' victory

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Croatia striker Eduardo struck his second goal of the game in the 104th minute to settle the tie after Rovers came back from two goals down and Gunners midfielder Denilson was sent off in the last minute of normal time.

"It was a mental test and we stood up to it," said a delighted Wenger. "It was a great game and we dominated football-wise in the first half. It was a mental test and we stood up to it."

Wenger, typically, handed opportunities to a whole team of young fringe players and his bold selection policy reaped rich rewards again when Abou Diaby and Eduardo scored to put the Gunners 2-0 ahead after 29 minutes.

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz, a £3.6million summer recruit from Bayern Munich, pulled a goal back three minutes before the break and then headed his 11th of the season to level matters on the hour mark.

After being reduced to 10 men for extra-time, Wenger's talented youngsters were clearly up against it.

But Eduardo's clinical winner from 16 yards ensured they prevailed again to encourage hopes of reaching the final for the second season running.

Wenger added: "We played our combination game - technically very good and very agile.

"Just before half-time Blackburn came back to 2-1 and that gave them the belief that they could come back in the second half.

"I felt that made the game more physical and they got it back to 2-2 from a free-kick."