LONDON, Feb 16, (AFP):  Arsenal’s hopes of ending their eight-year trophy drought suffered a huge setback after they were dumped out of the FA Cup at home to second-tier Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Colin Kazim-Richards scored the only goal in Rovers’s 1-0 victory when he followed up in the 72nd minute, with a strike that went in off the post, after Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny failed to hold Martin Olsson’s shot. Arsenal, who haven’t won a major piece of silverware since lifting the FA Cup in 2005, must now raise their spirits for a last 16 Champions League first leg tie on Tuesday when German giants Bayern Munich come to the north Londoners’ Emirates Stadium.

But this defeat can only add to the pressure on long-serving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side are a massive 21 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United.
The Frenchman, who had never seen Arsenal lose to lower league opposition in the FA Cup since taking charge of the Gunners in 1996, is sure to come under fire for not including star players such as Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla in his startling line-up.
The trio did all come off the bench only for Kazim-Richards to break the deadlock shortly afterwards and ensure Arsenal suffered a second embarrassing cup exit this season after fourth-tier Bradford knocked them out of the League Cup.

Arsenal’s defeat meant the first three sides into this term’s last eight of the FA Cup all came from the second-tier Championship. Earlier on Saturday, Millwall won 3-0 away to non-league Luton Town.
Goals from James Henry, Rob Hulse and Dany N’Guessan saw the second-tier south London club into the last eight for the first time since they went all the way to the 2004 FA Cup final only to lose Manchester United.
As soon as the fifth round draw was made, memories were revived of an infamous match between the two clubs in 1985 when rampaging Millwall fans wrecked Luton’s Kenilworth Road ground.
But the clubs have met on several occasions since and Saturday’s match, which ended a cup run for Luton that saw them knock out top-flight Norwich, appeared to pass off without a major incident inside the ground.
Elswehere, Barnsley won 3-1 away to third-tier Milton Keynes Dons.
Chris Dagnall opened the scoring in the third minute before setting the seal on victory with his second goal just seconds before the final whistle after Marlon Harewood had doubled the Yorkshire club’s lead in the 19th minute.

Dean Bowditch pulled a goal back for the hosts just after the hour mark.
Oldham’s Matt Smith caused more FA Cup drama as the League One giant-killers snatched a late equaliser to hold Everton to a 2-2 draw in the fifth round on Saturday.
Smith had scored twice in Oldham’s surprise win over Liverpool in the previous round and he came off the bench to frustrate the blue half of Merseyside in a thrilling tie at Boundary Park.
Jordan Obita shocked Everton with the opening goal early in the first half, yet Everton looked on course for the quarter-finals when Victor Anichebe netted the equaliser and Phil Jagielka headed the Premier League team in front soon after half-time.
But there was a sting in the tale for David Moyes’ men as Smith, a former shelf stacker in a supermarket, headed the equaliser with virtually the last touch of the game to set up a replay at Goodison Park.
Since their win over Liverpool, Oldham had dropped into the League One relegation zone and dismissed boss Paul Dickov, leaving Tony Philliskirk in charge on a caretaker basis, but their ability to trouble more illustrious opponents remains intact.

Everton were at full strength and England defender Leighton Baines went close to opening the scoring early on when his free-kick clipped off former Everton player Jose Baxter’s head and flashed just wide.
Yet just hours after Arsenal’s shock defeat against Blackburn, another upset was on the cards as Obita, a 19-year-old making his first appearance in the FA Cup, threatened to write his own chapter in the competition’s rich history. Lee Croft broke clear down the left in the 13th minute and drilled a low cross to the far post, where on-loan Reading forward Obita was just onside as he escaped his marker and slotted home for his first Oldham goal. However, Oldham’s advantage was short-lived. In the 24th minute, Nikica Jelavic flicked on a long ball and Nigerian striker Anichebe showed great strength to power past Jean-Yves M’voto and hammer his shot past the exposed Dean Bouzanis.

Obita almost produced the perfect response to that setback as the teenager’s shot from the left side of the penalty area was pushed onto the far post by a fingertip save from Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Moyes was forced to send on Kevin Mirallas in place of the injured Anichebe at half-time and the substitute made an immediate impact. Mirallas whipped in a 48th minute corner that picked out Jagielka just six yards from goal and the England defender directed his header past Oldham goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis in emphatic fashion. But Smith came on with half an hour remaining and, together with fellow substitute Robbie Simpson, he dragged the hosts back into the match.