At last, after a period of six long years and four failed semi-finals, Arsenal FC finally booked their place in a major final with a 4-2 aggregate win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final, of which second leg was played on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium.
It is the Gunners’ first final under Mikel Arteta since he led them to FA Cup glory in 2020, and only the second in his tenure.
The match, tense and occasionally cagey, saw Kai Havertz net a last minute injury-time goal that sealed the victory, sparking jubilant celebrations among players and fans at the Emirates Stadium. Despite limited attacking opportunities—both teams registered just two shots on target—Arsenal controlled the game and rarely appeared threatened.
The win ensures Arsenal will contest their ninth EFL Cup final, set for Sunday, 22 March, against either Manchester City or Newcastle. A clash with City would echo the 2018 final, won by the Manchester side when Arteta was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff.
Arteta highlighted the emotional significance of the triumph: “There was a special atmosphere inside our stadium. We’ve waited a few years to reach this point, and now we can enjoy it. The joy, the smiles, the energy—it shows everything that works at this club.”
Midfielder Declan Rice added: “We deserve this. We’ve been close in the Premier League for the past few seasons but now there’s a fire to go further in every competition. Being in a cup final with this club is amazing.”
For years, Arteta’s reign has been marked by near-misses in both domestic cups and the league. Now, with just one game standing between them and silverware, Arsenal have a chance to shake off the ‘nearly men’ label once and for all.
Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It has been a few years in the making. Arteta has been building the team’s ethos and togetherness, laying the foundations for moments like this.”
