February 3, 2026 | Carabao Cup Semi-Final, Second Leg | Emirates Stadium
Arsenal are back at Wembley. A disciplined, controlled 1–0 win at Emirates secured a 4–2 aggregate victory over Chelsea and a Carabao Cup final date next month against either Manchester City or Newcastle. The goal came in the dying seconds — a ruthless counter finished by Kai Havertz against his former club — but the real story was the 96 minutes of professional, unflinching defending that preceded it.
Chelsea, under Liam Rosenior, arrived with a back-three and wing-backs, clearly intent on containment and a late push. For the first hour, they largely succeeded in nullifying Arsenal — sitting deep, frustrating the build-up, and offering almost nothing going forward.
Sky’s Gary Neville spent much of the game praising the “tactical masterplan” to “take the game late and deep,” insisting Arsenal fans would grow nervous. Yet Chelsea spent most of the evening doing precisely what they needed to avoid: failing to create danger. One long-range effort each in a tepid first half summed up the contest. Rosenior’s conservatism was understandable given the tie situation — they needed to score — but it left them with only 30 minutes to chase the game they had spent most of trying not to lose.
Arsenal, by contrast, were patient and professional. They didn’t panic, didn’t overcommit, and never looked truly threatened. The back four — anchored by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães — dealt comfortably with everything Chelsea threw forward (mostly speculative shots and set-pieces). Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Eberechi Eze (starting in place of the injured Martin Ødegaard) controlled the midfield with composure.
With Chelsea finally pushing bodies forward in the closing stages, Arsenal pounced. A long ball from Piero Hincapié was headed on by the Chelsea defence, Leandro Trossard collected and laid off to Declan Rice. Rice’s superb left-footed pass found Havertz in space. The German rounded Robert Sánchez and slotted home, pointing to the badge as the Arsenal bench and travelling fans erupted. 1–0. Game, tie, and Wembley sealed.
Moments earlier, Arsenal had a strong penalty shout when Gabriel Martinelli was clearly tripped in the box — waved away. It mattered little in the end.
Calafiori on the pitch before Havertz scores the winner 😂
— Paul Sebastiani (@paoloseb05) February 4, 2026
🎥 Vision from @HarrySymeou #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/ZCtpCA2ohB
Key Performances
- Declan Rice — Dominant in midfield, superb assist for the winner.
- William Saliba & Gabriel Magalhães — Rock-solid, barely tested.
- Kai Havertz — Ice-cool finish against his old club. Emotional moment.
- Eberechi Eze — Composed in Ødegaard’s absence, kept things ticking.
- Leandro Trossard — Linked play, set up the winner.
Chelsea’s changes — including Garnacho, Palmer, and Estêvão — made little impact. They offered almost nothing in the final third.
Arteta’s Verdict
“Over two legs, we deserved to win. Taking the club to Wembley gives everyone the right reason for everything we do. The fans were enormous — the energy, the cold, the rain — they were with us every step. Now let’s enjoy it.”
The Bigger Picture
Arsenal defended with discipline, attacked with patience, and punished Chelsea when they finally committed. The plan worked — not flashy, but effective. This wasn’t about spectacle; it was about progression.
Chelsea’s ultra-defensive approach backfired. They needed to score and chose containment for too long, leaving themselves too little time to chase. Arsenal capitalised clinically when the moment arrived.
Wembley awaits. A cup final is now guaranteed — and Arsenal arrive with momentum, belief, and a point proven.
COYG ❤️⚪
North London is going to Wembley.
