Jansen hat-trick sees off Arsenal

A Matt Jansen hat-trick helped Blackburn Rovers to an emphatic 4-0 home win over a below-strength Arsenal side on Tuesday and into the semifinals of the League Cup.

To complete a bad night for Arsenal their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur won 6-0, at home to Bolton Wanderers, with Les Ferdinand hitting three in nine first-half minutes.

Despite the UEFA Cup place available for the competition's winners, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger again played an almost entirely reserve team, making nine changes from the side which fought back to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in the league on Sunday.

Blackburn took immediate advantage as Jansen struck twice in the first 15 minutes.

The first was a nice individual effort as he turned inside Matthew Upson before curling the ball beyond Stuart Taylor while the second was a tap-in to deflect a Tugay Kerimoglu shot.

Mark Hughes then scored his first goal in 30 games, again cashing in on poor Arsenal defending, to make it 3-0 after 21 minutes and Damien Duff hit a post minutes later.

Jansen completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute, tucking the ball into the corner to finish a sweeping passing move.

"We've been playing well all season and it's about time we put some goals past someone," said Jansen.

LOOKING FURIOUS
Wenger looked furious but the club's first away domestic defeat of the season will soon be forgotten if the first team collect another three points in the league against West Ham United on Saturday.

It was similarly one-sided match at White Hart Lane as Spurs, the 1999 winners, raced into a 4-0 first half lead thanks to Ferdinand's trusty forehead.

Simon Davies put them ahead after 21 minutes then the former England international striker hit the target in the 29th, 30th and 38th minutes -- all headers.

An Anthony Barness own goal made it 5-0 in the 79th minute and Steffen Iversen tapped in the sixth six minutes from time after Darren Anderton had three successive shots blocked.

Bolton, with eight changes from the team beaten 1-0 by Derby County on Saturday, were overwhelmed, but like Arsenal, will be back to full strength against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Chelsea play Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in the third quarter-final on Wednesday while the all-first division clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Watford completes the round on Wednesday December 19.

The draw for the two-legged semifinals takes place on Saturday.