Arsene Wenger's insistence on using the League Cup as a means of easing the frustrations of the fringe players of his squad reached some form of apotheosis last night when the Arsenal manager made nine changes to the team which beat Aston Villa so thrillingly on Sunday.

That the team he did put out still cost far more to assemble than that which represented Blackburn Rovers - which itself contained five changes - is surely beside the point. Supporters know when they are being short-changed, and the large number of empty seats in Ewood Park for a cup quarter-final told its own story.

The consolation was that Arsenal were not so much beaten as humiliated.

The Gunners, though, almost took the lead after four minutes; Junichi Inamoto broke from midfield to shoot wide from close range.

The Japanese midfielder was less impressive 10 minutes later when he was caught in possession by Tugay Kerimoglu, whose pass found Matt Jansen on the right.

Jansen cut inside the makeshift left-back Giovanni van Bronckhorst and curled his shot past Stuart Taylor.

Soon afterwards Jansen, infinitely more effective with a striking partner than when required to operate alone, made it two.

Taylor flapped at Keith Gillespie's cross and though he did well to block Damien Duff's shot, was left out of position when the ball rebounded to Tugay, whose off-target shot was turned in by Jansen.

There was an element of fortune about Blackburn's third too. This time it was David Dunn's shot which got a lucky break, bouncing off a number of legs before falling perfectly for Mark Hughes to turn on 10 yards out and shoot powerfully past Taylor.

Arsenal were a shambles. Ten minutes later Duff hit the inside of the post when clean through and Hughes turned the rebound over.

Perhaps the news that Spurs were on the right end of a similar exercise in futility prompted the post half-time improvement. Perhaps it was a gesture towards the 500 or so unfortunates who had travelled so far to support them. Who knows, it might even have been professional pride.

Whatever, Arsenal began to look at least semi-interested. Jermaine Pennant should have pulled one back two minutes after the break, dragging his shot wide after a clear run on goal, and there was even a period of pressure when they forced a couple of corners.

It didn't last. Tugay's superb ball freed Duff who timed his pass perfectly for Jansen to sweep home Blackburn's fourth, and his hat-trick.

Given Wenger's team selection, it came as no surprise after the match when he said the winners of the League Cup should not qualify for Europe.

Wenger said the extra UEFA Cup place should be decided on final league position. "I would give one more place to the championship because it's more difficult to play in he championship.

"As long as there is a European place at stake we want to play in the competition. But if you ask me what my priority would be, I think it is much more difficult to finish fifth or sixth in the league.

"For me it is very important to see some players at this level and the fact there is a European place in this competition is the only other advantage I can see."

The Premiership also takes precedence for Blackburn's manager Graeme Souness, even though the club are just 90 minutes away from a place in the final.

The Scot said afterwards: "Our priority is the Premier League. We've got a hard game against Newcastle (on Saturday), but if we go there with this determination we'll have a wee chance. I've been around too long to think of anything other than the next game."

However, he added: "The semi-final is two legged, so we'll see who we get and if we remain in the same spirit we'll give a good account of ourselves."

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Curtis, Johansson, Taylor, Kenna, Gillespie, Dunn, Tugay, Duff (Mahon 72), Hughes (Grabbi 67), Jansen (Ostenstad 72). Subs not used: Berg, Filan. Booked: Johansson. Goals: Jansen 11, 15, Hughes 21, Jansen 68.

ARSENAL: Taylor, Tavlaridis (Halls 82), Keown, Upson, Edu, Grimandi, Pennant (Aliadiere 64), Inamoto (Stepanovs 45), van Bronckhorst, Wiltord, Kanu. Subs not used: Svard, Holloway. Booked: Tavlaridis, Edu, Upson, Stepanovs, van Bronckhorst.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).