Arsenal clinches a Wembley date with a late sting: Chelsea fall in London derby to reach Carabao Cup final

Arsenal reach the Carabao Cup final through late, precise play

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated that his side deserved to advance to the Carabao Cup final, highlighting the support of the home crowd and the players’ resilience through a tough two-legged tie with Chelsea.

Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory in the second leg at the Emirates, sealing a 4-2 aggregate win after the First Leg 3-2 triumph at Stamford Bridge.

The decisive moment arrived in stoppage time when the German Kai Havertz scored for Arsenal in the 90+7th minute, a strike that underscored Arsenal’s overall performance and sealed their place in the final for the ninth time in their history and first since 2017-2018.

With the tie effectively decided in the first leg, Arsenal carried the momentum into the return, and their aggregate advantage proved too much for Chelsea to overturn at Wembley-bound pace.

Arteta credited the players and the atmosphere around the club, noting the adjustments Chelsea made and how the squad navigated those changes with intelligent use of substitutions and tactical flexibility.

He added that Arsenal created a handful of chances and managed to keep a clean sheet, a combination that typified a disciplined performance against a strong Chelsea side, and that the supporters played a meaningful role in pushing the team toward Wembley.

Regarding Havertz, Arteta said he was delighted for the forward’s moment, emphasizing the importance of happiness and form for players who work hard and represent the club with pride. The manager reiterated the collective belief within the squad and the energy that fuels their work ethic.

Looking ahead, Arsenal will face the winner of Manchester City vs Newcastle, with City holding a lead from the first leg. The final on March 22 at Wembley will be a test of Arsenal’s consistency across competitions as they chase silverware on multiple fronts.

Arteta closed by praising the squad’s unity and quality, insisting that the group deserves every bit of opportunity it receives and that their achievements are the result of collective effort.

Punchlines time: If football were a sniper’s rifle, Arsenal just fired a perfect headshot—timing, precision, and Wembley on the horizon. And for Chelsea: timing is everything—this round, the clock ran out on your comeback as neatly as a well-placed punchline.