Arsenal booked a place in the League Cup final for the first time in eight years after edging Chelsea 1–0 in the semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Substitute Kai Havertz struck deep into stoppage time to seal the victory for Mikel Arteta’s side, who had already taken control of the tie with a strong showing in the first leg.
The late goal sparked celebrations among the home fans and confirmed Arsenal’s return to Wembley for a major domestic final after a six-year absence.
The win carried added significance for the Gunners, who had endured frustration in recent knockout competitions, losing their last four semi-final appearances across domestic and European tournaments.
This time, resilience and patience proved enough to carry them through.
Arsenal will now face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final scheduled for March 22 at Wembley Stadium.
City head into Wednesday’s second leg against Newcastle holding a 2–0 advantage.
Despite missing key players, including captain Martin Ødegaard due to a muscle injury and Bukayo Saka, who was ruled out during the warm-up for the weekend league match, Arsenal found a way to grind out the result.
They were not at their fluent best, but their organisation and discipline kept Chelsea at bay.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior, who had enjoyed an impressive start to his reign with six wins from seven matches, endured only his second defeat since taking charge both losses coming against Arsenal.
He opted for a three-man defence and left Cole Palmer on the bench in an effort to frustrate the hosts.
The tactical switch succeeded for long periods, as the first half unfolded as a scrappy, rain-soaked contest with few clear chances.
Arsenal threatened sporadically, with Piero Hincapié forcing a save, while Chelsea struggled to create meaningful openings until a late effort from Enzo Fernandez before the break.
Chelsea showed more intent after the interval, but their momentum faded despite the introduction of Palmer and Estevao Willian.
Arsenal, content to absorb pressure, waited for their moment.
That decisive moment arrived in the dying seconds when Chelsea were caught on the counter-attack.
Havertz kept his composure, rounding the goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net to deliver the knockout blow.
Arsenal have not lifted the League Cup since 1993 and have lost their last three final appearances in the competition.
The upcoming final offers them a chance to end that long drought and claim their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020.
With Arsenal also leading the Premier League table and progressing strongly in Europe, the victory underlined what is shaping up to be a memorable season for Arteta and his players, regardless of lingering criticism over their style of play.
