Arsenal punched their ticket to the Carabao Cup final, besting their London adversaries, Chelsea, in a fiercely contested semi-final tie. The Gunners emerged victorious with a 4-2 aggregate score, sealing their passage with a gripping 1-0 triumph in the second leg at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium, on February 3, 2026. This achievement marks Arsenal’s first appearance in the Carabao Cup final since 2018.
The semi-final kicked off with an electrifying first leg at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal had already established a narrow 3-2 lead, thanks to goals from Ben White, Viktor Gyokeres, and Martin Zubimendi. Chelsea’s contributions in that initial encounter came courtesy of a brace from Alejandro Garnacho, leaving the tie delicately poised.
The decisive second leg at the Emirates unfolded as a much more guarded affair, primarily due to Chelsea’s cautious strategy. Manager Liam Rosenior opted for a defensive five-man backline, a decision that raised eyebrows given their need to overcome the deficit. This conservative stance drew sharp criticism, with football pundits like Paul Merson openly expressing their astonishment at Chelsea’s lack of offensive impetus. Despite registering 14 shots compared to Arsenal’s five, Chelsea managed only two on target, underscoring their struggle to carve out meaningful opportunities.
Arsenal, conversely, demonstrated exceptional discipline, meticulously protecting their aggregate advantage. Their defensive line, bolstered by the efforts of players such as Marc Cucurella and Moisés Caicedo, held resolute against Chelsea’s advances. Mikel Arteta’s tactical masterplan proved effective in thwarting their opponents, even if some observers found sections of the match somewhat uninspiring.
As the clock ticked down, Chelsea introduced more attacking firepower in the second half, bringing on players like Estevao, Cole Palmer, and Alejandro Garnacho in a desperate bid to snatch an equalizer and force extra time. However, it was Arsenal who delivered the fatal blow. Deep into injury time, in the 97th minute, Arsenal launched a swift counter-attack. Declan Rice threaded a pass to former Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, who expertly navigated around the onrushing Chelsea goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, and calmly slotted the ball into the unguarded net. This dramatic late goal, scored against his previous club, secured a 1-0 victory for Arsenal and a comprehensive 4-2 aggregate win.
Havertz’s goal ignited joyous celebrations among the Arsenal squad and their supporters. This triumph brought an end to Mikel Arteta’s streak of four consecutive semi-final exits, earning praise for Arsenal’s tenacity and strategic acumen.
Chelsea’s defeat, however, prompted widespread scrutiny of Rosenior’s tactical decisions and the team’s failure to breach Arsenal’s defense. Frustration was palpable among fans regarding the cautious approach, particularly when goals were desperately needed.
Arsenal now prepares to head to Wembley Stadium for the Carabao Cup final on March 22, 2026, where they await the winner of the other semi-final contest between Manchester City and Newcastle United.
By: Andrews Addotey
