Blackburn Rovers 1 Arsenal 0:Arsenal have been dumped out of the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers to compound a miserable week in which they also lost in the Champions League and the Carling Cup final.

As was the case for large periods against Chelsea in Cardiff on Sunday Arsene Wenger's side had the more clear cut chances, but the introduction of South African striker Benni McCarthy won the match for Mark Hughes.

McCarthy began on the bench but ended up making the nost dramatic impact in the 87th minute when he picked the ball up on the left wing and stepped inside Phillippe Senderos before unleashing a cracking right foot strike past Almunia and into the far corner.

It sealed Arsenal's third defeat in a row for the first time since 2002.

Arsenal appeals for a penalty mid-way through the first half looked justified when Brett Emerton brought down Freddie Ljungberg.

Julio Baptista squandered their best chance in the first half when he had a free header from six yards that he sent over the bar. The Brazilian was also denied a couple of times by Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel in the second half.

Rovers will face Manchester City in the quarter-final on March 11th.