Arsenal are quietly putting together what could be a very special season. They did enough to get past Chelsea and book their place in the Carabao Cup final at the Emirates on Tuesday night, winning 1-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate. No fireworks, no chaos – just control, patience and a late moment to sort it all out.
A win will keep Arsenal firmly in the treble and even quadruple conversation if they stay alive in the FA Cup. They are still competing on many fronts and this result ensures that at least one route to Wembley will be sealed. Chelsea made things awkward but never really forced Arsenal out of their comfort zone.
Mikel Arteta was happy with both the result and the way it went after the game, while Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior pointed to progress despite another defeat.
“We are so happy. Overall, I think we deserved to go through those two games,” Arteta said at the post-match press conference. “It was a long game. We expected that. In the end, we wrapped it up in a beautiful way with Kai scoring the goal the way he did and the reaction from the crowd.”
The match itself followed a familiar pattern. Arsenal liked to hold the ball, control the pace and wait for Chelsea to make mistakes. Chelsea, to their credit, remained organized and competitive but struggled to convert possession into clear-cut chances. Kepa Arrizabalaga was rarely tested and Enzo Fernandez’s first-half long-range shot was the only moment that briefly asked the question.
The breakthrough finally came deep in stoppage time. Declan Rice picked out Kai Havertz’s cross, the substitute showed composure to round Roberto Sanchez and the empty net did the rest. It was a neat end to a tie that Arsenal were largely in control of over both legs.
Rosenior, still early in his tenure, focused on the positives. “I think everyone can see the difference in our performances,” he said. “That’s really pleasing. Obviously losing the game is not what we wanted. I’ve been in less than a month, we’ve played eight games and the spirit and togetherness in the team was there.
For Arsenal, the bigger picture is becoming clearer. The Carabao Cup final awaits them, the league race remains alive, Europe is still in play and the FA Cup could add another layer to their ambitions.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 4, 2026