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Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup final with a narrow win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, sealing the semi-final tie with a late decisive goal on Tuesday night.
Holding a 3-2 advantage from the first leg, the Gunners completed the job with a controlled display that limited Chelsea’s attacking threat before Kai Havertz struck in stoppage time to confirm progression to Wembley.
The result sends Arsenal into their first League Cup final since 2018.
The match unfolded at a cautious tempo, with Arsenal prioritising game management while Chelsea searched for a way back into the tie.
Despite seeing more of the ball, clear chances were scarce for both sides during a cagey first half.
Tactical battle at the Emirates
Chelsea set up with a back five, a shape that reduced space between the lines and forced Arsenal to work patiently in possession.
The hosts dominated territory early on but struggled to break through a compact defensive block.
Chelsea’s approach limited Arsenal’s attacking play but offered little threat in transition. The visitors found it difficult to sustain pressure in the final third, with Arsenal’s defensive structure comfortably dealing with crosses and long passes.
As the second half progressed, Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior attempted to inject urgency by introducing attacking options from the bench, including Estevao and Cole Palmer.
The changes increased Chelsea’s tempo but did not significantly test Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Havertz decides tie late on
With extra time looming, Arsenal delivered the decisive moment in stoppage time. Havertz, recently returned from injury, capitalised on a defensive lapse, rounded Sánchez and finished calmly to spark celebrations inside the stadium.
The goal killed off Chelsea’s hopes of a comeback.
Arsenal will now face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final, with the second semi-final to be decided on Wednesday.
For Mikel Arteta’s side, the result keeps alive hopes of silverware this season as they continue to compete on multiple fronts.
Chelsea, meanwhile, exit the competition after failing to overturn the first-leg deficit, with attention now shifting back to league commitments and squad recovery ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.