The South African striker, surprisingly left on the bench by boss Mark Hughes, responded by tearing down the left flank and firing an unstoppable 87th-minute winner past Manuel Almunia.

It was a roaring ending to a largely disappointing fifth-round replay, which was punctuated by Graham Poll’s whistle and seldom generated any incidents for Wenger’s team to get fractious about.

Wenger had responded to his side’s Carling Cup final loss by making four changes to his line-up including promoting defender Emmanuel Eboue despite his FA charge for violent conduct.

Eboue was at the centre of what passed for the only angry moment of a disjointed and disspiriting first period, when he was badly fouled by Morten Gamst Pedersen and required treatment.

With both defences well on top, and Rovers’ gangly Chris Samba looking particularly impressive, a repeat of the two sides’ Emirates Stadium stalemate always looked likely.

Referee Graham Poll’s tactic of blowing for even the slightest infringement gave Pedersen a handful of set-piece chances he failed to take, while Julio Baptista was the Gunners’ main threat.

It took the Gunners 22 minutes to create their first chance, when Eboue played in Jeremie Aliadiere, who fell over the advancing Brad Friedel and had half-hearted penalty appeals waved away.

The visitors had a much stronger penalty appeal turned down by Poll in the 28th minute after Ljungberg’s run into the corner of the box was cut out by Emerton from behind.

Baptista should have put Arsenal ahead on the half-hour after the Gunners were presented with a dangerous free kick 25 yards out from goal on the right flank.

Denilson floated the ball into the box, where the unmarked Baptista rose highest but directed the simplest of headers inches over the bar with Friedel beaten.

Armand Traore was the first man to enter Poll’s book for late foul from behind on Bentley, before Pedersen’s trademark swirling free kick was saved by Almunia.

In a game punctuated by Poll’s whistle it looked likely the opener would come from one of many dangerous set-pieces, but not Denilson, who drilled a dreadful effort into the wall in the 37th minute.

Rovers might have snatched the lead just before the break when Tugay dispossessed Denilson but his attempt to play Matt Derbyshire clear was well cut out by Senderos.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes made one change at half-time with a Warnock, who reported a stomach problem, replaced by Zurab Khizanishvili in a straight defensive swap.

The scrappy nature of the game continued after the break but Rovers enjoyed a period of possession and might have gone ahead had Shabani Nonda managed to meet David Bentley’s low cross in the 50th minute.

Baptista came close again for the Gunners two minutes later when he picked up Alexander Hleb’s pass just outside the box and screwed a rising left-foot effort inches over Friedel’s bar.

As both sides belatedly began to create chances Pedersen should have hit the target after sneaking behind the Gunners defence following a quick free kick, but fired high and wide of target.

The Gunners made their first change on the hour, with Carling Cup goalscorer Theo Walcott on for Eboue, before Hughes responded with a double change, McCarthy and David Dunn on for Tugay and Nonda.

McCarthy was not able to make an immediate impression with Baptista coming close from long range for the visitors, who seemed destined to drag the tie into extra time.

It was to prove Hughes’ match-winning decision, as the big striker latched onto his fellow substitute’s through-ball, cut inside the defender and fired jubilant Rovers into a last eight tie against Manchester City at Ewood Park on March 11.