The second leg of these Carabao Cup semi-finals started from a curious scenario. Arsenal arrived with the advantage after the 3-2 win in the first leg, but Chelsea came in flying, riding five straight victories and carrying the typical confidence of a team that feels it can turn any tie around. Even so, the pre-match feeling was clear: to knock out this Arsenal side, playing “well” would not be enough. You had to play very well.
From the opening minutes, the expected pattern emerged. Arsenal comfortable on the ball, managing the tempo, in no rush. Chelsea, without possession, dropped into a very low 5-4-1, clearly more concerned with not conceding than with taking risks early on. The big question was what Chelsea would do when they had the ball, and that’s where a debatable choice appeared: Delap wide on the right, as a winger.
And the problem showed up quickly. Delap is not a creative wide player. He doesn’t have the short dribble or the technical explosiveness to consistently win 1v1 duels. He might beat his man with pace once or twice, but asking him for constant unpredictability is asking for something that simply isn’t part of his game. As a result, Chelsea’s right side became predictable and largely harmless.
Arsenal had more possession, but they didn’t accelerate either. They circulated the ball, pushed Chelsea back, but without creating real danger. The best moments of the first half came mostly from long-range shots and crosses that led nowhere. Chelsea, despite enjoying spells of the ball, barely troubled Kepa.
The first half ended exactly as it felt in the stadium: lots of caution, lots of restraint, very little risk. A big game in name, but small in emotion.
The second half followed the same script for several minutes. Physical football, little inspiration, plenty of duels and very little flow. And here comes an interesting reflection: this type of game between big sides in England has almost become the norm. Less aesthetics, more muscle, more collisions. Is it evolution? Maybe. Is it beautiful to watch? Not always.
Arsenal never felt completely at ease when Chelsea managed longer spells of possession, but they also never looked truly threatened. The major shift came around the 60-minute mark, when Chelsea abandoned the back five and introduced Cole Palmer and Estevão. The team gained creativity, intent and more presence between the lines.
Still, something essential was missing: timing. Chelsea waited far too long to take risks in a game where scoring was mandatory. When they finally started to push properly, the clock was already working against them.
The introductions of Havertz and Trossard gave Arsenal more ability to hold the ball and exploit transitions. Gyökeres came off after a quiet display, due in large part to the lack of service. Garnacho entered hoping to replicate the first leg, but this time he ran into a much more compact Arsenal, closing central spaces and perfectly comfortable without the ball.
In the final minutes, Chelsea threw everything forward, crossed repeatedly, tried shots from distance, but without creating a single clear chance that truly made Arsenal wobble. And when they fully exposed themselves, the inevitable happened.
Deep into stoppage time, with Chelsea desperate, Arsenal break in transition. Rice carries the ball and finds Kai Havertz in perfect position. No real pressure, space and time to think, and Havertz chooses the best option: takes Robert Sánchez out of the equation and rolls it into an empty net. Cold, clinical and symbolic.
Post-match
A narrow win on the night, but a decisive one over the tie. Arsenal never needed to be brilliant, because they were always controlled, mature and fully aware of the context.
Chelsea showed positive signs across the two legs, but in this second game they paid dearly for an overly conservative initial approach. Sitting in a back five for so long in a match you absolutely have to win ended up limiting their own attacking potential.
Havertz closes the tie with a touch of cruelty, and Arsenal move on to the final with that big-team feeling: they don’t always entertain, but they almost never lose control.