Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger paid tribute to his remarkable young players after they marched into the Carling Cup semi-finals with a stunning 3-2 extra-time win at Blackburn.

Wenger rested his first-choice starting XI and continued his policy of fielding promising young fringe players in a competition in which the Gunners were beaten by Chelsea in last season's final.

The incredible pool of talent at Wenger's disposal was again illustrated as they proved too strong for Blackburn, despite having midfielder Denilson sent off in the 90th minute.

Eduardo and Abou Diaby put Arsenal 2-0 ahead after 29 minutes and, although Roque Santa Cruz scored twice to draw Rovers level, Eduardo struck the winner in the 104th minute.

"It was a great game and we dominated football-wise in the first half," said Wenger after seeing finishes of real quality from Diaby and Eduardo.

"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 in the second half and we struggled to get our game going."

The tensions which had always threatened to erupt finally boiled over in the last minute of normal time when Gunners midfielder Denilson was sent off for an ugly two-footed lunge on David Dunn.

Playing 30 minutes with 10 men - and then seeing substitute Nacer Barazite carried off on a stretcher with a dislocated shoulder - ensured serious questions were asked of Wenger's young side.

"They get back to 2-2 from a set-piece and I think Denilson lost his nerve a little bit with the tackle [on Dunn]," admitted Wenger.

"After that it was a mental test and we found the resources to score a third goal.

"When it was 10 against 11, Blackburn were in a position to throw everything forward.

"But you know that you will get one or two chances if you keep calm and continue to try and get the third goal."

For Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, his side's alarming slump continued.

Rovers have now won only one of their last eight games and Hughes admitted this latest surrender - coming just three days after a 5-3 capitulation at Wigan - was worrying.

Hughes said: "At the moment we're finding it very difficult to give ourselves a platform which enables us to win games.

"It was the same at the weekend. We're conceding too many goals from poor situations.

"We have a tendency to just switch off again and teams can capitalise on that.

"That's what has happened again."

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