Arsenal Secure Wembley Return with Dramatic Semi-Final Victory Over Chelsea
Mikel Arteta described the occasion as "just magical" after his Arsenal side battled to a tense 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 4-2 aggregate win and booking their place in the Carabao Cup final. This triumph marks the Gunners' first appearance in a Wembley showpiece for six years, ending a significant drought for the North London club.
Havertz's Stoppage-Time Strike Seals the Deal
Leading 3-2 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal faced considerable late pressure from their London rivals in a match characterised by few clear-cut opportunities. The decisive moment arrived deep into added time, with Kai Havertz breaking away to score in the seventh minute of stoppage time, sending the home crowd into raptures and confirming a final date against either Manchester City or Newcastle United on March 22nd.
Arteta was effusive in his praise for the collective effort, stating: "It's the best vitamins we can put in our bodies. We're playing every three days. The fact that we worked so hard to achieve this moment and to have this moment together, it's just magical. You can see the joy, the smiles, the energy in the dressing room."
Emirates Atmosphere Proves Pivotal
The manager also highlighted the crucial role played by a buoyant home support, which he credited with transforming the nervous energy that had plagued recent performances, including January's goalless draw with Liverpool and defeat to Manchester United. "The crowd was brilliant," Arteta remarked. "They brought so much energy and belief to the team in different moments when it was very much needed. We deserve to be together at Wembley in a few weeks. The energy was very good. From the beginning I sensed that it was different."
This victory appears to have consolidated a resurgence in confidence following Saturday's emphatic 4-0 Premier League win away at Leeds United, which ended a three-game winless run and restored a six-point lead at the summit. While questions regarding the club's 22-year wait for a league title persist, Arteta is confident this Wembley qualification can act as a powerful springboard.
Arteta Eyes Learning from Experience
"It's about learning from previous experiences," the manager explained. "Today was a very different game from the first leg at Stamford Bridge. We dealt with it really well, the way the team competed and understood what we had to do. Really impressive. Now let's win the final." Arsenal's last Wembley final was Arteta's first season in charge, when they lifted the FA Cup in an empty stadium during the pandemic.
Rosenior Reflects on Chelsea's Improved Display
For Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior, the defeat halted a five-game winning streak, but he took positives from a significantly improved performance compared to the turbulent first leg, which came just days after his appointment. "In the first leg, I'm not making excuses, but we had an illness go through the camp on the day of the game – we had four players missing – and I'd been in charge for three days," he said.
Rosenior added: "I cannot fault the application, intensity or the fight of the players. What we need to do is remember this is the start and I'm really, really happy with a lot of things I'm seeing. You want to get the results, but we need to make sure we rest and recover and we keep improving as we go."
