Kai Havertz came back to haunt his former side as he struck in the final minute of regular time to seal a 1-0 win for Arsenal over Chelsea as they advanced to the final of the EFL Cup.
The Gunners put their semifinal woes behind them as they advanced to a first major final in six years following a 4-2 aggregate win.
Mikel Arteta’s side held a 3-2 advantage from the first leg at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago and needed just a draw to advance on the night.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard missed the match with slight injury problems, with Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze getting the nod to start.
Meanwhile, Liam Rosenior in the opposite dugout left Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian on the bench and started with a different formation.
Chelsea’s defensive approach frustrated Arsenal, who had only one attempt on target in a cagey first half as Piero Hincapie forced Robert Sanchez into a save.
Enzo Fernandez then tested Kepa Arrizabalaga from distance as the first half ended with an attempt on target for each side and no goal.
The affair was very tense as both teams were wary of giving their opponents too much space for a goalscoring chance.
Fernandez and Marc Cucurella wasted chances for Chelsea, before Gabriel Malgahaes had a header on target blocked by Cucurella.
The Blues pushed Arsenal back in search of the tie leveller, but they were hit on the counter by a devastating move as the hosts found the breakthrough.
Declan Rice fed Havertz, who then rounded Sanchez before firing into the empty net as the Gunners sealed the win over both legs.
Arsenal will now wait for the winner of the other semifinal clash between Manchester City and Newcastle United to determine their opponent in the final.
The Cityzens hold a two-goal advantage from the first leg with goals from Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
