Arsenal moved to within touching distance of their first major trophy since 2020 after edging past Chelsea to book a place in the Carabao Cup final, sealing a 4–2 aggregate victory in a tense, attritional semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.
Holding a 3–2 first-leg advantage, the Gunners were forced to wait until the 97th minute before confirming their passage to Wembley, when substitute Kai Havertz delivered the heartbreaking blow against his former club.
Recently returned from injury, the German forward latched onto a counter-attack deep into stoppage time, rounded goalkeeper, Robert Sánchez and calmly slotted the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations.
The 1–0 win on the night ensured Arsenal’s progression and sent the home supporters into raptures, the noise revealed just how huge the moment was for a club starved of silverware in recent years.
It will be Arsenal’s ninth EFL Cup final, and their first major final since Mikel Arteta’s FA Cup triumph in 2020.
Tactical Chess Match at the Emirates
Arsenal began the second leg on the front foot but found chances hard to come by against a Chelsea side set up with a back five, a surprise tactical move by Blues boss Liam Rosenior.
For long spells, the contest was cagey and low on clear-cut opportunities, with both teams managing just two shots on target apiece.
Chelsea’s shape effectively neutralised Arsenal’s usual threat from set-pieces, an area that proved decisive in the first leg.
Rosenior rolled the dice on the hour mark, introducing Cole Palmer and Estêvão in a bid to ignite Chelsea’s attack, before later throwing on Alejandro Garnacho.
Yet Arsenal’s defence, marshalled superbly by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, stood firm.
That resilience laid the foundation for Havertz’s injury time winner.
Arteta: “We’ve Been Waiting a Few Years for This”
After the final whistle, Arteta spoke of the emotional weight of the achievement and the belief growing within his squad.
“There was a special atmosphere inside our stadium. It makes such a difference.”
“We’ve been waiting a few years to get into this position and we’re certainly going to enjoy it [the final],” Arteta said.
“It’s the best vitamins that we can put in our bodies because we’re playing every three days.”
“But the fact that you worked so hard to achieve those moments and to have these moments together is just magical.”
“You can see the joy, the smile, the energy and everything that works at the club.”
Arteta, who was part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff when Manchester City won their first trophy in 2018, has long believed that reaching and winning finals can unlock a new level of dominance.
‘We Have Extra Fire This Season’ – Declan Rice
Midfielder Declan Rice echoed his manager’s sentiments, framing the victory as the reward for years of near-misses.
“We deserve it. The last three or four years we’ve been at the top of the Premier League, competing and got really close but haven’t been good enough,” Rice said.
“That’s why this season we have that extra desire and fire in our bellies to go one step further in every competition.”
“There’s a long way to go but to be in a cup final with this club is amazing.”
Chelsea’s Plan Worked… Until It Didn’t
Despite defeat, Rosenior drew encouragement from Chelsea’s display, which marked his first major tactical departure since replacing Enzo Maresca four weeks ago.
The Blues lined up with three centre-backs for the first time since March 2024, a system famously used during their 2021 Champions League and 2017 Premier League title wins under Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte respectively.
Chelsea also gambled by leaving three players high up the pitch during Arsenal corners, aiming to counter-attack and disrupt the hosts’ rhythm.
Reflecting on the approach, Rosenior said:
“You can come away from home, press all over the pitch man for man and you could go 2-0 up or you could go 2-0 down.”
“I felt that the psychological aspect of the tie was very important as well and I felt in the stadium as well.”
“60 minutes, I bring on Cole and Estevao and the game opens up and we have moments in and around the box.”
“We didn’t achieve what we wanted to, but it’s not about game plans, it’s about results.”
Ultimately, it was Arsenal who found the decisive moment, leaving Chelsea to reflect on what might have been.
Nearly Men No More?
Since lifting the FA Cup in 2020, Arsenal had reached four semi-finals and lost them all. On none of those occasions had they even managed to win a leg.
Now one game away from silverware, Arsenal will face Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final at Wembley on Sunday, 22 March, likely City, who hold a commanding advantage in the other semi-final.
For a side top of the Premier League, through to the FA Cup fourth round, boasting a perfect Champions League record and now in a cup final, the question is no longer whether Arsenal are contenders, but whether this is the season they finally become serial winners again.
