Arsenal v Chelsea
Arsenal see off Chelsea to reach Carabao Cup final
Arsenal reached their first major final in six years after a 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday saw them progress to the final of the Carabao Cup 4-2 on aggregate.
Former Chelsea forward Kai Havertz sealed Arsenal's place at Wembley Stadium next month after rounding goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and finding the net deep into second-half stoppage time.
Following a home loss in the first leg of the semifinal last month, Chelsea successfully frustrated their London rivals for much of Tuesday's return match. But Liam Rosenior's side failed to threaten the goal they needed to level the score on aggregate in a match of few scoring opportunities before Havertz's late strike.
In what is shaping up to be a banner season for the club, Arsenal will now face the winners of the other semifinal between Manchester City and Newcastle United on March 22. Man City head into Wednesday's second leg with a 2-0 advantage.
Arsenal will be looking for a third League Cup title, after 1987 and 1993. The club has been the runner-up six times, most recently to City in 2018.
Arsenal have not lifted a major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, in manager Mikel Arteta's first season with the club.
Arteta's team leads the Premier League by six points in their bid to become English champions for a first time since 2004, and also finished top of the Champions League standings after eight straight wins.
For good measure, Arsenal have advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup too.
The opening contest of the last-four encounter at Stamford Bridge was a goal fest, but with next month's final on the line, this was a significantly cagier affair.
Rosenior, who prior to Tuesday night had masterminded five consecutive wins, deployed five players across Chelsea's backline to nullify Arsenal's threat, and it worked with Piero Hincapié recording the hosts' sole shot of the first half when he forced Sanchez into a decent save from range after 18 minutes.
Arsenal's success from set pieces has been well-documented in recent times. But for each of their corners here, Chelsea pushed three players forward, and as many red shirts were forced to follow. It had the desired effect with Arsenal lacking their usual set-piece potency.
Then, as half-time approached, former Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga punched clear Enzo Fernández's strike from distance.
Into the second half and the advantage was still with Arsenal, but while the Blues remained within one goal the last-four tie continued to hang in the balance.
Cole Palmer and Estêvão were introduced on the hour mark as Chelsea went in search of levelling the match on aggregate before Marc Cucurella and then Fernández tried their luck, unsuccessfully, from range.
Arsenal were starting to show some jitters, and Declan Rice urged his teammates, and quite possibly the crowd, too, to calm down in what was proving an increasingly feisty affair.
With 14 minutes remaining, Gabriel had a decent chance to put Arsenal in the clear, but his header from Martin Zubimendi's cross was diverted away from danger by Cucurella.
At the other end, Wesley Fofana's flick from a corner flashed past Kepa's near post. Fernández then flashed an effort high and wide in the 90th minute with six additional minutes to be played.
The visitors pushed and probed, but in truth, never looked like getting the goal to force extra time, and in the end it was Havertz who picked up Rice's pass before delivering a composed finish as Arsenal's impressive season goes from strength-to-strength.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Peter Bankes

