Arsenal Swipe Left on Chelsea: Late Kai Havertz Seals Carabao Cup Final Bid
5 February 2026
Match verdict and reaction
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosinior responded with sarcasm to criticism after Chelsea's exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Arsenal in the semi-final second leg at the Emirates.
Arsenal sealed a 1-0 win in the return leg, completing a 4-2 aggregate victory and booking a Wembley final against Manchester City on March 22.
Kai Havertz scored the late goal in stoppage time (90+7) to hand Arsenal the win and take them to a ninth final, their first since 2017-18.
What it means and the lead-up
Arsenal had built a 3-2 lead from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, meaning they advance to face Man City at Wembley on 22 March with a cumulative 4-2 scoreline.
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson criticized Chelsea's performance, lamenting the lack of bite and planning shown by the Blues and suggesting they were outplayed for large stretches of the tie.
Rosinior's response and context
Rosinior fired back, joking that being a pundit makes critique easy—his words echoed across ESPN's coverage as he defended his side's approach and decisions.
He added that football results shape the narrative: if you lose, you’re criticized; if you win, you’re hailed as a genius, with the truth often sitting somewhere in between.
In another jab, he quipped about his former role as an analyst, framing the punditry gig as easier than it looks from the studio chair.
ESPN noted the remarks, stressing that football analysis carries inherent risk: fame and scrutiny ride a tightrope depending on outcomes.
Arsenal's path to Wembley keeps funding a narrative that this final could redefine the campaign, while Chelsea must regroup quickly in pursuit of sales across the season.
Punchline time: coaching is easy when you critique from a sofa — but real work happens on the training pitch (and with a louder crowd). And if football were a job interview, pundits would hire themselves in a heartbeat, mostly to ask, “So, how do you like your coffee: with late goals or late drama?”
