Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup final with a 1-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium.
After a cagey 90 minutes that saw few clear chances, the deadlock was broken in the last minute of six minutes of added time, when super‑sub Kai Havertz popped up, rounded Chelsea’s Sanchez to fire into an empty net and send the Emirates crowd into raptures.
The goal sealed a 1‑0 victory on the night and a 4‑2 aggregate triumph, consigning Chelsea to semi‑final heartbreak and sending Mikel Arteta’s side through to Wembley.
The match had been a tactical chess match, with both sides cautious and disciplined, but it was Havertz’s late goal that ultimately decided one of English football’s fiercest rivalries in cup competition.
Arsenal will now face their final opponents on the big stage, while Chelsea’s hopes of silverware in this campaign are dashed despite a spirited performance.
With this victory, Arsenal remain unbeaten in last 10 meetings with Chelsea in all competitions (W7 D3), the North London side longest against them since a 17-game run between 1999-2004.
Goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Ben White and Martin Zubimendi gave Arsenal the lead going into yesternight’s second leg encounter, which saw precious few chances at Emirates Stadium.
But as the visitors looked for a late goal, Hincapie’s header found Leandro Trossard who sent Rice free on the counter and it was former Chelsea man Havertz who rounded Robert Sanchez to give the Emirates stadium landlord a 1-0 win and send them to Wembley for a first Carabao Cup final in eight years.
Arsenal came into the game looking to reach a first Carabao Cup final since 2018 where they lost 3 nil to Manchester City.
Chelsea continued to flood forward looking to force the encounter to extra time, the clock ticked over the minimum of six minutes, but Arsenal managed to nick the ball and Trossard fed Rice, who squared to Havertz and the German was able to round Chelsea goalie Sanchez and give them a 1-0 win on the night and send us to Wembley.
Now Arsenal will play who comes out victor in after tomorrow night (Wednesday) between Manchester City and Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola’s City go into the game with a two goal advantage lead after the victory at St. James Park courtesy of Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki.
Arsenal are back in Premier League action in N5, taking on Sunderland on Saturday, February 7, at 3pm (UK time).
The team will then on Thursday, February 12, head to west London to take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium at 8pm (UK time)
