JUBILANT Academy chief Bobby Downes last night hailed Rovers' performance as one of the best he had ever seen after they dumped Arsenal out of the AXA FA Youth Cup in dramatic style at Highbury.

Don Howe's classy Gunners were red-hot favourites to lift the trophy for a third successive season.

But those dreams were left in tatters after rampant Rovers pulled off one of the shocks of the season courtesy of two stunning goals from Jon Walters and Jerome Watt.

"It was a great performance," enthused Downes.

"We worked very hard on our team shape prior to the game and that paid off handsomely for us on the night.

"There were some great individual performances but it was a magnificent team display which ultimately saw us through.

"We scored two great goals, we were very well disciplined, and we could even have scored a couple more on the break in the closing stages so no-one could argue we didn't deserve to win."

When the two sides met in last season's final, the Gunners triumphed 6-3 over two legs.

But there was to be no repeat last night as Rovers brilliantly avenged that final defeat.

A goal in each half from the visitors was enough to see off the defending champions, who couldn't raise their game enough to pull a result back -- with a missed penalty from captain David Bentley adding to their misery.

Don Howe's team had long spells of domination and a number of chances to score, but with Jay McEveley a real colossus at the back, Rovers defended magnificently before sinking the Gunners with two classic sucker punches.

The visitors started off as the brighter team, with Andy Bell coming close in the sixth minute - his shot from the edge of the box curled slightly wide of the Arsenal goal.

Two minutes later Rovers surged ahead, however, when Walters picked up the ball from a throw-in and beat keeper Craig Holloway with a dipping volley.

Arsenal retaliated strongly. Daniel Hollington fired just wide of the post after some great work by Alex Bailey, then minutes later Adam Birchall was presented with a clear run at goal which was ended by a brave save at his feet from Kieron Renton.

With almost 25 minutes gone, Bentley tried an audacious 45-yard lofted shot which fell on the roof of the net, and Adam Birchall and the industrious Bentley had further chances before the end of the half.

Rovers continued to pose problems on the break, however, and they extended their lead in the 61st minute. Watt's electric run took him past a couple of players and, after picking out Walters with a peach of a pass, he accelerated in the area to meet the return before cooly slotting past Holloway.

Four minutes later, the Gunners were handed a lifeline when Adam Birchall was dragged down in the area but Renton magnificently saved Bentley's spot-kick to book Rovers' place in the last eight.

Rovers: Renton, Cole, Martin, McEveley, Davey, Watt, Black, Nelson, Morgan, Bell, Walters. Subs Not Used: Fitzgerald, Stevenson, Whelan, Harkins, Johnson.

ARSENAL YOUTH...0 ROVERS YOUTH...2