Arsenal edged closer to breaking a painful semi-final streak with a thrilling 3-2 victory at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, yet the night ended with a bittersweet aftertaste. The Gunners now head to the Emirates for the second leg on 3 February with the advantage — and a reminder that fine margins still separate them from a first major final since the 2020 FA Cup.
Turning the tide in two-legged semis
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s record in two-legged semi-finals had been bleak. The club had failed to win a single leg in their previous four attempts and managed just two goals across those ties. Wednesday’s win at Stamford Bridge felt like a release valve: a statement that this Arsenal side, top of the Premier League and thriving in Europe, can finally translate season-long promise into knockout progress.
A performance of quality and what might have been
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Arsenal produced moments of real class and looked capable of stretching the lead further, only to be pegged back twice by a resilient Chelsea. The Gunners’ 32nd game of the campaign underlined their consistency — just two defeats all season — but also exposed a familiar vulnerability in closing out big nights.
“First of all, I have to praise the players for the performance, for the game that we just played against a really good opponent,” Arteta said, acknowledging both the positives and the near misses.
“We had two massive chances to score the fourth one, and the result would have been very different. But in that moment, they created a corner, they scored a goal, and it's game on.”
Gyokeres rediscovers his spark
For Viktor Gyokeres, the night offered a much-needed confidence boost. The £64 million summer signing had struggled to find his rhythm, but his goal against Chelsea was his first from open play since November and a reminder of the striker who once struck 97 times in 102 games for Sporting. He also set up Martin Zubimendi for Arsenal’s third, giving the visitors a cushion to take back to north London.
“That's what I need to do, and I can do it more often. We won today, and we keep going,” Gyokeres said, urging calm and focus ahead of the return leg.
Regrets linger despite the lead
When Arsenal led by two goals, the tie felt all but settled. Yet Chelsea’s late fightback, led by Alejandro Garnacho, ensured the contest remains alive. Ben White admitted the second half fell below the team’s standards, calling the concession of two goals disappointing even as he celebrated the win.
The Gunners could have left London with a more comfortable cushion, but the slip-ups serve as a warning: the job is not done, and complacency will be punished.
Eyes forward to the league and the next test
Arteta’s response was characteristically pragmatic. With a Premier League clash at Nottingham Forest looming, he refused to linger on the result for long, insisting the squad recover and refocus. The routine is clear: celebrate the progress, learn from the lapses, and prepare for the next challenge.
Arsenal have taken a crucial step toward ending their semi-final nightmares. Now they must finish the job at the Emirates and prove that this season’s promise can finally be turned into silverware.
