Summary:
- Arsenal’s Kai Havertz scored in stoppage time, helping his team beat Chelsea 1–0 and secure a 4–2 aggregate win.
- Arsenal’s defence held firm despite Chelsea having more shots and pressure.
- The Gunners reach their first cup final since 2020 and will play at Wembley in March.
Arsenal are heading back to Wembley after finally getting over their Carabao Cup semi-final hurdle, and they did it in the most dramatic way possible in a football match which was a bit of a bore to watch.
Kai Havertz, coming off the bench, scored deep into stoppage time to beat Chelsea 1–0 at the Emirates and send the Gunners through 4–2 on aggregate.
Missing Clear Chances
The tie always felt tense rather than open. Chelsea who struggled in the Premier League fixture with discipline had come to north London knowing a single goal would push the match into extra time after the chaotic first leg at Stamford Bridge.
They saw plenty of the ball and took far more shots than Arsenal, but clear chances were hard to come by. Arsenal, by contrast, looked comfortable waiting for the right moment, backing their defence to hold firm.
That moment arrived in the 97th minute. Declan Rice sent a hopeful ball forward, Havertz timed his run perfectly, rounded Robert Sanchez, and rolled the ball into an empty net. The Emirates erupted. For Havertz, scoring against his former club, it was a quiet finish followed by a very loud celebration.
The goal ended Arsenal’s recent habit of falling short at this stage of the competition. Under Mikel Arteta, they had lost four straight domestic semi-finals. This one sends them to their first cup final since 2020, where they will meet either Manchester City or Newcastle.
Arsenal’s control owed a lot to their defensive discipline. Chelsea finished with 14 shots to Arsenal’s five, but most of those efforts were from distance or awkward angles.
Enzo Fernandez forced the best save of the night when Kepa Arrizabalaga tipped his curling shot away in the first half. Otherwise, the hosts kept things in front of them and stayed patient.
Rice stood out throughout, covering ground, breaking up play, and setting the tone in midfield. He was deservedly named player of the match. At the back, Gabriel and Piero Hincapie dealt well with Chelsea’s limited threat, while Arsenal recorded yet another clean sheet in a season that has been defined by defensive consistency.
Arteta: “We Are So Happy.”
After the match, Arteta was clearly relieved as much as he was delighted.
We are so happy. I think overall, over the two games, we deserved to be through. It was a long match. We expected that… It was magical. Really happy because it was a really tough match against a great opponent and we are in Wembley.
Chelsea left frustrated. Paul Merson summed up the mood bluntly, saying,
Chelsea played in second gear,” and arguing they never truly went for it.
Head coach Liam Rosenior struck a calmer note, focusing on progress rather than the result.
There’s a lot of encouraging signs. Now I need to see what we look like after a setback.
For Arsenal, the focus shifts to Wembley on March 22 for the 2026 Carabao Cup Final. For one night at least, the wait is over.