Arsenal progressed to the Carabao Cup final with a 1-0 second-leg victory at the Emirates, eliminating Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate.
Liam Rosenior’s quest for his first piece of silverware as Chelsea boss ended in disappointment as the Blues fell to a narrow defeat in North London.
Despite an experimental tactical setup that initially stifled the Gunners, Chelsea struggled to generate meaningful offense.
The tie was effectively ended late on when former Blue Kai Havertz struck on the break, ensuring Arsenal will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final.
Robert Sanchez (6): The Spaniard produced a sharp save in the 18th minute to keep out a long-range effort from Piero Hincapie. He had a relatively quiet evening otherwise and was left exposed for the winning goal.
Malo Gusto (5): While he executed a vital sliding challenge to stop Gabriel Martinelli in the first half, his offensive contributions lacked quality. A yellow card for simulation capped off a frustrating night for the full-back.
Wesley Fofana (6): Utilizing his recovery speed in a hybrid defensive role, Fofana looked comfortable covering the right flank. He nearly snatched an equalizer late on but sent his header wide of the target.
Trevoh Chalobah (6): The academy graduate was solid in the air and managed the physical threat of Viktor Gyokeres effectively. He provided a steady presence in the heart of the Chelsea defense throughout the match.
Jorrel Hato (6): Positioned on the left side of a defensive trio, Hato was industrious and made several key interceptions. He was replaced at the hour mark as Chelsea shifted to a more attacking shape.
Marc Cucurella (8): The standout performer for the visitors, Cucurella dominated his individual duel with Noni Madueke. His heroic block in the 77th minute prevented a certain goal from Gabriel Magalhaes.
Andrey Santos (6): The young midfielder showed composure on the ball and intercepted several Arsenal passes during the first period. He was tactically sacrificed in the second half for more attacking impetus.
Moises Caicedo (7): One of the few Chelsea players to display creative vision, Caicedo nearly unlocked the Arsenal defense with a clever through ball. He remained a consistent engine in the middle of the park.
Enzo Fernandez (5): The Argentine struggled to dictate the tempo of the game and found himself marginalized for long stretches. His attempts from distance failed to trouble the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Joao Pedro (5): Despite coming into the game in high spirits, the Brazilian found himself isolated. He worked hard to hold up play but never received the service necessary to test the defense.
Liam Delap (4): Tasked with a wider role than usual, Delap failed to make an impact. He missed an early opportunity and was largely anonymous before being substituted early in the second half.
Substitutes
Estevao Willian (6): Returning to the squad, the youngster showed flashes of his technical ability on the left wing. However, he was unable to produce the decisive moment Chelsea desperately required.
Cole Palmer (5): Introduced as a second-half savior, the talismanic playmaker was kept quiet by a disciplined Arsenal setup. He struggled to find the pockets of space where he usually thrives.
Alejandro Garnacho (N/A): Brought on late in the proceedings, the winger didn’t have sufficient time to influence the outcome of the semi-final.