Havertz Sends Arsenal To Wembley With Dramatic Late Winner

On a rain-soaked night at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal fans witnessed a moment they’ll not soon forget: Kai Havertz, a former Chelsea man, delivered a stoppage-time dagger to secure a 1-0 win over his old club and send the Gunners to the Carabao Cup final for the first time in eight years. The aggregate score line of 4-2 was enough to book Arsenal’s ticket to Wembley, where they’ll face either Manchester City or Newcastle United on March 22, 2026.

The tension was palpable from the start. Arsenal entered the second leg with a slender one-goal advantage, thanks to first-leg strikes from Viktor Gyokeres, Ben White, and Martin Zubimendi. Chelsea, no strangers to overturning deficits in this competition, had progressed in three of their last four EFL Cup semi-final ties after losing the first leg. But this time, the Gunners' resilience and tactical discipline held firm.

Early exchanges were cagey, with both sides probing for weaknesses but finding little joy. The opening 15 minutes offered precious few chances. Liam Delap’s scuffed shot was the first effort of note for Chelsea, while Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli nearly capitalized on a long ball, only for Malo Gusto to recover and snuff out the danger. The wet conditions made slick passing tricky, but both teams were undeterred.

Arsenal’s supporters came alive with a flurry of corners, the best of which saw Eberechi Eze tee up Piero Hincapie for a thunderous left-footed strike that Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez did well to parry. Chelsea responded with their own spells of possession, as Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella combined to set up Enzo Fernandez, whose curling effort was denied by Arsenal’s Kepa.

As the match wore on, Chelsea’s urgency grew. Blues boss Liam Rosenior, facing his first major setback since taking over from Enzo Maresca just weeks earlier, rolled the dice by introducing Cole Palmer and Estevao in the second half. Yet, for all their attacking changes, the visitors struggled to create clear openings. Noni Madueke, eager to impress against his former club, beat defenders but couldn’t find a telling final ball.

Arsenal, meanwhile, remained patient. Declan Rice, orchestrating play from midfield, nearly helped Martin Zubimendi set up Gabriel at the back post, only for Cucurella to clear. The match, still goalless on the night, entered a tense final 25 minutes with the aggregate score in Arsenal’s favor.

As rain continued to pour, Chelsea threw on more attackers—Alejandro Garnacho among them—while Arsenal countered with Leandro Trossard and Havertz. Every minute ticked by with nerves fraying on both sides. Palmer’s free-kick was blocked, and Wesley Fofana nudged wide from a corner as the clock wound down. Arsenal’s penalty claims were waved away by referee Peter Bankes after Martinelli went down under Trevoh Chalobah’s challenge.

Then, with the board showing six minutes of added time, the Emirates erupted. Arsenal nicked the ball deep in their own half and launched a devastating counterattack. Trossard found Rice, who squared to Havertz in acres of space. The German forward, who’s endured a tough year with injuries, coolly rounded Sanchez and slotted home, sealing a 1-0 victory on the night and sparking wild celebrations.

Havertz’s celebration was telling—pointing to the Arsenal badge as teammates mobbed him, a cathartic release after a season of adversity. “Not only me, I think everybody that knows Kai a little bit, we feel genuinely happy for him in a special way because he deserves the best,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said after the match, per www.arsenal.com. “The way he works, the way he treats people, the way he behaves every single day. Today was a special moment for him and I hope that he enjoyed it because he fully deserves it.”

Arteta, who guided Arsenal to their only trophy under his tenure with the 2020 FA Cup, was effusive about the team’s achievement. “We’re only one match away. It’s the best vitamins that we can put in our bodies because we’re playing every three days. But the fact that we worked so hard to achieve those moments and to have these moments together is just magical. You can see the joy, the smiles, the energy from everyone that works at the club. Winning helps in every sense. Confidence, energy, you call it. We’re going to be there in a few weeks, we’ll prepare well.”

For Chelsea, the defeat was a bitter pill. Rosenior revealed that Reece James and Pedro Neto failed fitness tests on the morning of the game, leaving the Blues shorthanded. “There are a lot of encouraging signs,” Rosenior said. “Now I need to see what we look like after a setback. We need to react positively. We have a difficult game away in Wolves on Saturday and I need to see what our reaction is to that.”

With Arsenal’s place in the final secure, attention now turns to the other semi-final. Manchester City currently hold a 2-0 advantage over Newcastle United ahead of their return leg at the Etihad. The winner will face the Gunners at Wembley on March 22, with kick-off widely expected at 4:30pm GMT. The final, as always, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering fans across the UK a front-row seat to the season’s first major domestic trophy showdown.

Ticket demand is expected to be fierce, with each competing club managing their own allocations—approximately 30,000 tickets apiece if last year’s final is any guide. Fans are urged to purchase through official club channels to avoid scams, while hospitality packages will be available directly from Wembley Stadium. The EFL has shifted the final to March this year, a change driven by the new Champions League league phase and a more congested football calendar.

For Arsenal, the Wembley appearance will be their first in the League Cup final since 2018, when they fell 3-0 to Manchester City. The North London club last lifted the trophy in 1993, defeating Sheffield Wednesday. The Gunners’ faithful will be dreaming of ending that long wait for League Cup silverware—could this be the year?

In the meantime, Arsenal must refocus quickly, with Premier League fixtures against Sunderland (February 7) and Brentford (February 12) looming large. For Chelsea, it’s about regrouping and responding to adversity as they prepare for a tough trip to Wolves.

With the Carabao Cup final set for March 22 at Wembley, anticipation is already building. Arsenal’s journey has been one of resilience, late drama, and a touch of magic—just the recipe for a memorable cup run. The question now: can they finish the job under the Wembley arch?