Arsenal fans have reason to celebrate as their team clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, booking their place in the 2025/26 Carabao Cup final. With the aggregate score finishing 4-2 in favor of the Gunners after an earlier 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge, Mikel Arteta’s side now look forward to a Wembley showdown on March 22, where they’ll face either Manchester City or Newcastle United.
This semifinal second leg on February 3, 2026, was anything but a free-flowing spectacle. Both sides entered the contest knowing the stakes: a trip to Wembley for the victor, heartbreak for the loser. The tension was palpable from kickoff, with neither team willing to take unnecessary risks. The first half was defined by tactical discipline and a lack of clear-cut scoring opportunities. Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie did have a long-range effort saved, and Chelsea’s Malo Gusto made a crucial recovery to deny Gabriel Martinelli, but for the most part, the match was a chess game—each side probing for a weakness but refusing to overcommit.
Chelsea, trailing by a goal after the first leg, needed to show more attacking intent in the second half. Manager Liam Rosenior, who’s only been in charge for a short spell, was forced to contend with a depleted squad. Injuries and absences shaped his lineup: Jamie Gittens was out with a hamstring injury, Reece James and Pedro Neto were ruled out on the day, and Estevao, just back from compassionate leave in Brazil, started on the bench. Rosenior explained his approach to the match, saying, “We really felt with the game plan, we felt we had a good chance to come through. In terms of the result it was not what we wanted. I’m seeing clear improvements from when I joined to now.”
Despite a tactical shift and the introduction of attacking talents like Cole Palmer and Estevao in the second half, Chelsea struggled to break down Arsenal’s well-organized defense. The Blues managed to limit Arsenal’s attacking threat for much of the game, but struggled themselves to fashion genuine scoring opportunities. As Trevoh Chalobah put it, “It’s disappointing not to get into the final. It’s the final details in the attacking third. There wasn’t much in the game, we did well to nullify them. The boys had done really well but it was the final details. They didn’t create many chances, they didn’t really hurt us. It’s those details of finishing an attack and getting some shots off.”
Arsenal, meanwhile, showed the resilience and patience that has defined their campaign so far. The breakthrough finally arrived in the dying moments of the match. With Chelsea pushing forward in search of a late equalizer, Arsenal seized their chance on the counterattack. Declan Rice picked out Kai Havertz, who raced clear, rounded Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, and calmly slotted home. The Emirates erupted as Havertz—once a Chelsea player himself—celebrated his crucial goal, underlining his growing importance to Arteta’s side.
After the match, Mikel Arteta was effusive in his praise for his players and the club’s supporters. Speaking to ITV, he said, “Did I enjoy it? Very much—especially at the end. We knew it was going to be a real battle out there. That resilience, that clarity to understand what kind of game we had to play. We did that so well. There was a special atmosphere inside our stadium. It makes such a difference. We’ve been waiting a few years to get into this position and we’re certainly going to enjoy it [the final].”
Jurrien Timber, who played a key role in Arsenal’s defensive effort, echoed the manager’s sentiments in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live: “The atmosphere at the end just makes me smile. On to Wembley! First of all, I didn’t know if he [Kai Havertz] was going to pass. He went around the keeper and he did amazing. For Kai being out for so long and coming back and the love he gets from the fans says a lot. You could feel it coming, he goes around the goalkeeper, and you know everyone is going to go crazy. Chelsea are a great team. They have some amazing players. Bringing Palmer and Estevao on, they also have amazing players coming off the bench. When you win over two legs twice, I think you have done an amazing job, so credit to the team. The desire is there—we are very hungry. We are in an amazing position.”
For Chelsea, the disappointment was clear, but Rosenior refused to dwell on the negatives. He pointed to the adversity his side faced, including illness that struck the squad before the first leg and the limited time he’s had to implement his ideas. “In the first leg, I’m not making excuses, but we had an illness go through the camp on the day of the game—we had four players missing—and I’d been in charge for three days. I cannot fault the application, intensity or the fight of the players. What we need to do is remember this is the start and I’m really, really happy with a lot of things I’m seeing. You want to get the results—but we need to make sure we rest and recover and we keep improving as we go.”
Despite their best efforts, Chelsea’s tactical plan ultimately fell short. Some pundits, like Paul Merson, questioned their approach, saying he “couldn’t believe” what he watched as the Blues failed to muster the attacking urgency needed to overturn the deficit. Still, Rosenior defended his decisions, noting, “The reality of my job is if you lose games, you’ll be criticised. If you win, you’re a genius. It’s normally somewhere in between, I think.”
As the final whistle blew, Arsenal’s players and fans celebrated a return to Wembley—a stage they haven’t reached in six years. The victory keeps alive hopes of a remarkable season, with the team still competing on multiple fronts. The Carabao Cup final against either Manchester City or Newcastle United promises to be a blockbuster occasion, and Arsenal will enter it brimming with confidence and momentum.
Looking ahead, Arsenal host Sunderland in the Premier League on February 7, aiming to extend their impressive run. Chelsea, meanwhile, travel to face Wolverhampton Wanderers, looking to regroup and refocus for the challenges ahead. For now, though, North London is basking in the glow of a cup final berth—one earned through grit, discipline, and a touch of late magic from Kai Havertz.