Arsenal breaks their semi-final curse, narrowly defeating Chelsea to reach the Carabao Cup final

Kai Havertz’s invaluable goal in the final moments helped Arsenal overcome Chelsea and confirm their spot in the Carabao Cup final, aiming for a historic quadruple.

The second leg of the semi-final between Arsenal and Chelsea unfolded with a tense and strategic atmosphere. After a thrilling first-leg win, Arsenal entered the match at Emirates determined to protect their slim advantage. However, the high stakes of reaching Wembley made both teams cautious, resulting in a physically draining battle.

For most of the game, the match was quite deadlocked with very few clear chances. Arsenal appeared to struggle in finding their rhythm as key players like Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres were tightly marked.

On the other side, Chelsea, led by new coach Liam Rosenior, showed great courage. It wasn’t until the 43rd minute that the visitors had their first shot on target from Enzo Fernandez’s effort, which Arsenal’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga brilliantly saved.

In the second half, the intensity of the London derby increased. Mikel Arteta even received a yellow card for his strong protests to the referee. Seeking a goal, Chelsea introduced key players like Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian. Palmer had a chance from a free kick, but the ball flew over the bar, much to the disappointment of the visiting fans.

Just when everyone expected a goalless draw, the most dramatic moment occurred in the 97th minute of added time. Taking advantage of Chelsea pushing too high to equalize, Arsenal launched a textbook counterattack. Trossard skillfully bypassed Cucurella before passing to Declan Rice.

The English midfielder immediately set up Kai Havertz, who calmly rounded goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to score into an empty net, sealing a 1-0 win for Arsenal (4-2 on aggregate).

Havertz’s goal not only decided the match but also served as a powerful statement against his former club. The Emirates crowd erupted with their familiar chant for Arsenal’s number 29. This victory officially ended Arsenal’s “semi-final jinx” after five recent attempts, bringing Arteta’s squad closer to their first trophy in six years.

On March 22, Arsenal will step onto the Wembley pitch for the final. With their current form and hardened mentality, the Emirates side is full of confidence as they pursue new heights this season.