Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea: Havertz Stuns Blues as Gunners Reach Carabao Cup Final – Sportsphere24
Arsenal continued their strong 2025–26 season with a dramatic 1–0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on 3 February 2026, sealing a 4–2 aggregate win in the Carabao Cup semi-final and booking a place in the final at Wembley Stadium next month. The only goal came in stoppage time, when Kai Havertz rounded the Chelsea goalkeeper to score the late winner and send the Gunners through.
Late Drama in London Derby
The second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final was tense and cagey for much of the night, with Arsenal holding their aggregate lead courtesy of a 3–2 victory in the first leg at Stamford Bridge earlier in January.
Chelsea constructed a disciplined defensive effort in the return leg, frustrating Arsenal for long periods and limiting clear chances. Both sides had spells of possession but lacked cutting edge inside the final third.
That stalemate held until 90′+7 minutes, when Arsenal broke through. A swift counter-attack saw Declan Rice carry the ball forward before playing in Havertz, who calmly beat the Chelsea keeper to make it 1–0 and seal Arsenal’s progression to Wembley.
Tactical Battle
Arsenal controlled the aggregate tie through structured play and defensive organization, showing discipline even when Chelsea pushed forward late in the game. Their back-line and midfield denied Chelsea clear opportunities for much of the match, forcing the Blues to resort to set-plays and speculative shots.
Chelsea, under Liam Rosenior, made tactical adjustments and introduced attacking players such as Cole Palmer and Estêvão later in the second half in search of the required goal, but ultimately found Arsenal’s defense too resolute.
What It Means
Arsenal’s Cup Final Return
This victory marks Arsenal’s first League Cup final appearance since 2018, ending an eight-year wait for a place in the showpiece at Wembley. They will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United on 22 March 2026, with a potential chance for silverware in a season where they have been strong across competitions.
The win also adds momentum to Arsenal’s campaign, bolstering confidence and signalling their ability to perform in high-pressure, knockout settings.
Chelsea’s Near Miss
For Chelsea, the defeat concludes their Carabao Cup journey this season. Despite competitive moments, they were unable to overturn the first-leg deficit and lacked the decisive breakthrough in London. This result underscores growing discussions around consistency and attacking potency in big derby games against top rivals.
A Rivalry With History
The Arsenal vs Chelsea rivalry — one of London’s fiercest in English football — stretches back over a century, with both clubs contesting over 200 matches across league and cup competitions. Arsenal historically hold more wins in the fixture, but Chelsea have had notable triumphs of their own.
Recent years have produced memorable clashes, including a 1–1 Premier League draw in November 2025 between the sides and dramatic league matches in past seasons.
Players to Watch
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Kai Havertz: Once a Blues player, his late winner against his former club adds an emotional twist to the tie.
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Declan Rice: Assisted the decisive goal and showed strong leadership.
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Chelsea’s attacking options: Substitutes like Palmer and Estêvão brought added threat, but couldn’t find the final ball.
What’s Next
Arsenal now shift their focus to Wembley for the 2026 EFL Cup Final on 22 March, where they will face Manchester City or Newcastle United — a chance to end a long wait for League Cup glory and add a trophy to their 2025–26 campaign.
Chelsea will regroup and turn back to Premier League action, looking to build consistency and challenge for European qualification spots.