BLACKBURN Rovers legends Simon Garner and Glenn Keeley believe Mark Hughes and his players have nothing to fear when they face Arsenal in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Yesterday's draw paired Rovers and the Gunners together in a mouth-watering tie at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and although Hughes' side will start the game as the clear underdogs, Garner and Keeley are adamant the Gunners are beatable.

"I don't think it matters who you get at this stage of the competition because it's going to be a tough game whoever it is," said Garner.

"If you could have picked anyone then I suppose you'd have gone for Newcastle, but if you want to win the FA Cup then you've got to beat the best at some point along the way.

"Arsenal are certainly going to be tough opponents because this is their last chance of silverware this season.

"We've just got to hope we catch them on a bad day.

He added: "Arsenal are beatable. They haven't been as consistent as they can be and they will give you a chance at the back, particularly if Sol Campbell isn't playing.

"They've always been renowned for having a solid back four in the past but I don't think you can say that about them at the moment.

"Arsene Wenger also seems to have some goalkeeping problems so they do have weaknesses that Rovers could exploit."

Those sentiments are echoed by Keeley, who is looking forward to a feast of football over the next month.

"What a fabulous game to look forward to, and what a wonderful time to be a Premiership footballer," said Keeley.

"We go to Liverpool tomorrow night, we play Arsenal on Saturday, then it's Manchester United at Old Trafford, followed by Arsenal again in the FA Cup at the Millennium Stadium.

"If that doesn't get your juices flowing as a player then I don't know what will.

"Some people might argue we would have been better drawing Newcastle but once you get to the semi-finals, it's going to be a tough game regardless of whoever it is.

"Why can't we beat Arsenal?

They aren't the force they were at the start of the season. Their confidence is not what it was and going out of Europe won't have helped the situation, so they'll need their best players to play well on the day."

Although Keeley accepts the Gunners will start the tie as the clear favourites, he insists Rovers are more than capable of giving anyone a game these days because of the way Hughes has set them up.

"The way Blackburn are playing at the moment, they won't be a pushover for anyone," added the former Ewood favourite.

"They don't give much away at the back, as Leicester City found to their cost on Sunday.

"We've just got a hope that when we get a chance against Arsenal someone takes it."