Relief at the Emirates
The semi-final curse is broken. In a night defined by tension rather than fluency, the Arsenal vs Chelsea Carabao Cup second leg ended with the Gunners booking their place at Wembley. Mikel Arteta’s side, holding a slender 3-2 lead from the first leg, navigated a tactical battle against Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea before Kai Havertz struck in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win on the night and a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Tactics Over Thrills
Liam Rosenior arrived at the Emirates with a surprise game plan, benching Cole Palmer and deploying a back three.
- The Standoff: The tactical shift stifled Arsenal early on. Without the injured Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, the hosts lacked their usual attacking rhythm, struggling to break down Chelsea’s organized defense.
- The Scare: Chelsea grew into the game, with Enzo Fernandez forcing a save from Kepa Arrizabalaga before the break. The introduction of Cole Palmer and Estevao in the second half increased the pressure, but Arsenal’s defense held firm.
- The Dagger: As Chelsea pushed for an equalizer in stoppage time, Arsenal exploited the space. Kai Havertz raced clear on the breakaway, rounding Robert Sanchez to roll the ball into the empty net, sending the Emirates into delirium.
Chasing Silverware
This result is massive for Arteta. After crashing out at this stage last season against Newcastle, Arsenal have finally cleared the hurdle. Nova Sports News confirms that the Gunners remain in the hunt for a potential quadruple, but the immediate prize is a Wembley showdown against either Manchester City or Newcastle United.
The performance was gritty rather than glamorous, but in cup football, the result is king. The Arsenal vs Chelsea Carabao Cup tie proves that this Arsenal team can grind out results when the pressure is highest.
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