It was a draining, nerve-shredding contest that felt more like survival than spectacle, but over the two legs Arsenal did just enough. After 180 minutes of tension, Mikel Arteta’s side broke a run of semi-final failures and moved a step closer to silverware for the first time in six years.
The Gunners are Wembley-bound and few inside the stadium will care how they got there. If anything, the fact Kai Havertz delivered the decisive blow against his former club in the 97th minute only added an extra layer of satisfaction.
Chelsea had thrown bodies forward late on and committed fully to the chase, but Arsenal struck ruthlessly on the break. Compared to the chaos of the five-goal first leg, this return fixture was largely attritional, with Arsenal managing the tie before finally landing the knockout punch.
It marked Arsenal’s first semi-final success in five attempts and secured their place in the Carabao Cup final on March 22. Remarkably, the league leaders remain in contention for four trophies this season after scrapping their way through another high-pressure test.
For Chelsea and new boss Liam Rosenior, it was a bitter exit just 28 days into his reign. Still, there was pride to be taken from how his side competed across both legs, even if they ultimately lacked the cutting edge to break through Arsenal’s organised defence.
Clear chances were scarce all night, with the decisive moment delayed until the very end. The contest was heavy on tension and consequence, but short on quality, as both sides seemed weighed down by the stakes.
Arsenal defender Gabriel, captaining the side in the absence of the injured Martin Odegaard, launched a long ball forward late on. Gabriel Martinelli raced onto it but failed to test the goalkeeper, summing up a night where margins were painfully fine.
Chelsea’s first effort on target did not arrive until the 43rd minute, when Enzo Fernandez curled a fine strike from distance, only for Kepa Arrizabalaga to push it away.
At times, Arsenal appeared unsure whether to protect their slim advantage or push for control. Several players struggled to impose themselves, with Eberechi Eze quiet in the number ten role and Viktor Gyokeres feeding off scraps.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were content to wait for their moment, knowing one goal would level the tie. Frustration spilled over after the break, with Arteta booked for protesting too many decisions in quick succession.
Rosenior rolled the dice just after the hour, introducing Estevao Willian and Cole Palmer to inject urgency. Palmer fired a free kick over as Chelsea increased the pressure, but Arsenal’s back line refused to buckle.
Then came the release. Declan Rice surged forward in stoppage time, squared the ball to Havertz, who calmly rounded Robert Sanchez and rolled it into the net.
As the Emirates erupted, the home crowd serenaded the scorer with a familiar chant. On a night defined by nerves and resilience, Arsenal finally buried their semi-final demons.
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