Rain-soaked and high-stakes—the Emirates Stadium played host to a classic London derby with a trip to Wembley on the line. Leading 3-2 from the first leg, Arsenal played a disciplined, cagey game, absorbing Chelsea’s desperate attempts to level the aggregate score.
The Counter-Punch
As the clock ticked into the seventh minute of added time, Chelsea threw everyone forward. Arsenal's defensive structure held firm, clearing the ball into the path of Declan Rice, who spearheaded a devastating counter. He squared it to Kai Havertz, who showed remarkable composure to round Robert Sanchez and slot home the winner on the night.
Friction and Focus
The match wasn't without its drama off the ball. Chelsea's Liam Rosenior voiced frustration over perceived "disrespect" during the warm-ups, but for Arteta, the focus remained purely on the achievement of reaching a first Carabao Cup final since 2018.
The Arteta Insight
"We’ve worked so hard to reach this final. To have a beautiful night together again with our supporters and secure that trip to Wembley is what this club is about. We stayed focused on the football."
Man of the Match: Kai Havertz 🇩🇪
Scoring the goal that mathematically ended the tie against his former club, Havertz proved once again that he is the man for the big occasion.