Rovers fall short in dress rehearsal

This game was billed as a dress rehearsal for that meeting at The Millennium Stadium but Rovers fluffed their lines on a day when some of Arsene Wenger's supporting cast seized the chance to take centre stage.

The Gunners rolled up at Ewood without many of their star performers but still managed to strike an early psychological blow in the build-up to Cardiff thanks to an exquisite goal from Thierry Henry's understudy, Robin Van Persie.

Hughes was later quick to point out that this result will have little bearing when the two sides meet again in the Principality in four weeks' time, but it's bound to have sown a few seeds of doubt in the minds of his players as they allow their thoughts to wander to April 16.

It's not so much that Arsenal won without having to break sweat here, it's more the personnel they managed to do without that will cause most anxiety in the Rovers camp over the next few days and weeks.

The Gunners were missing Henry, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell, Dennis Bergkamp and Freddie Ljungberg - all of whom are likely to return for the semi-final - yet they still had enough class to see off a valiant Rovers side that has made great strides under Hughes over the last six months.

Hughes put on a brave face afterwards but he knows he has got his work cut out if he's to become the first Blackburn manager since 1960 to lead his team to an FA Cup final.

"People will try to draw parallels between this game and the one we'll face in Cardiff but I think it's very difficult to do that," said the Rovers chief.

"They'll be two completely different games.

"I'm sure Arsene Wenger will claim the psychological rights because they've won here. That was always going to happen whoever won it today.

"But how much of an impact today's result will have is open to debate and I rather doubt it will have any in all honesty."

Hughes stuck with the same 4-5-1 formation that had proved so successful in stifling Everton and Liverpool and for the vast majority of the first half it worked a treat once again.

However, Van Persie then capitalised on a momentary lapse of concentration at the back and suddenly Hughes' game plan lay in tatters as Rovers were left chasing the game.

That was the 18th time that Rovers have conceded the first goal in a match this season and tellingly they haven't gone on to win any of them, mainly because of the lack of guile in the side.

That was again evident here as Arsenal had few problems in defending their lead, barring a couple of late chances for Steven Reid and Brett Emerton.

The Gunners looked stronger, quicker and more assured in possession against a Rovers side that appeared to be feeling the effects of five tough games in 19 days.

Several players performed way below par and as Hughes later conceded, you can't afford to do that against a team of Arsenal's undoubted quality.

Rovers started brightly and managed to work an opening inside the first forty seconds when Garry Flitcroft freed Morten Gamst Pedersen on the left, but the Norwegian's teasing cross just evaded the lunging Paul Dickov in the six-yard box.

David Thompson then tried his luck with a volley that dipped beyond the far post but Arsenal remained unbowed and started launching one or two raids of their own.

Fabregas released Van Persie with a cleverly weighted pass but Brad Friedel raced quickly off his line and forced the Dutchman to run the ball out of play.

Moments later, the Gunners striker was denied again when Aaron Mokoena made a vital block in the area.

As the half wore on, Rovers grew in confidence going forward.

Thompson tricked his way past Gael Clichy in the area only to drag his shot hopelessly wide of the near post, then a sweeping move exposed the Arsenal defence once again.

Thompson and Reid exchanged passes on the right before the latter swung over a first time cross that found Pedersen hanging in the area, but his header flew into the grateful arms of Jens Lehmann.

With half-time approaching, Rovers suffered a set-back when Dominic Matteo limped off with an ankle injury, prompting the arrival of Nissa Johansson from the bench.

As the back four readjusted, Arsenal struck like a cobra, in devastating fashion.

Ashley Cole picked up the ball on the left and performed a neat little pirouette to lose Lucas Neill, which took him in-field.

He then picked out Van Persie, who had made a darting run into the space between Andy Todd and Ryan Nelsen, and the Dutchman's clever turn left him one on one with Friedel.

The rest was pure class as Van Persie nonchalantly waltzed past the Rovers keeper and walked the ball into an empty net.

That goal was like a dagger through Rovers' heart after they had done so well to contain the Gunners for the previous 42 minutes and Hughes' plans were thrown into further turmoil during the half-time interval when Todd indicated he wasn't well enough to continue.

Rovers failed to build up any momentum in the second half, partly because of Graham Poll's incessant whistle blowing, which prevented the game from flowing.

Arsenal had chances to make the points safe but Van Persie struck the crossbar with a curling shot, and Friedel repelled another Reyes effort.

Hughes' last throw of the dice was to introduce Emerton in an advanced midfield role and the Aussie might have snatched a point from the fire in the closing stages but shot wide when sent clear by Neill.

If that was a decent opportunity then the one that fell to Reid in the final minute was even better.

Dickov's clever dummy sent the Republic of Ireland international racing clear but he drilled his shot wide with only Lehmann to beat.

Hughes must hope his players will have their shooting boots with them in Cardiff.

Arsenal (4-4-2): Lehmann; Lauren, Toure, Senderos, Clichy; Fabregas, Flamini, Vieira, Cole; Van Persie, Reyes. Subs (not used): Cygan, Abeyie, Eboue, Taylor

Referee: Mr G Poll (Hertfordshire) Far too fussy. 5

Bookings: Rovers; Neill, Dickov, Reid Arsenal; Clichy

Sendings off: None

Attendance: 22,992

Goals:

0-1 - Van Persie, 43 mins