Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
League Cup semi-final report
by Layth Yousif
at Stamford Bridge 

A VIKTOR GYOKERES goal and an assist helped Arsenal to a 3-2 win over Chelsea in the first leg of a pulsating League Cup semi-final clash. 

On a rainy evening in west London, this captivating capital clash at Stamford Bridge saw Mikel Arteta’s side emerge triumphant to take a slender lead back to N5 in the second leg in early February. 

Arteta’s dominant side had appeared to be coasting at 2-0 and 3-1, up following an opener from Ben White that was supplemented by the Swedish striker’s first goal in nine games for the Gunners, prior to Martin Zubimendi grabbing the Gunners’ third. 

Former Manchester United wideman Alejandro Garnacho scored twice for the dogged Blues, but the north Londoners held on to spoil Liam Rosenior’s first home game in charge of Chelsea. 

Reflecting on the narrow result, which, despite Arteta losing four semi-finals during his time in charge, should have seen a wider winning margin for the victors, the Arsenal boss said: “The feeling is not perfect, but with so much quality on the pitch, we have to value what the team have done.”

The Gunners will rue the missed opportunity to have made this two-legged tie safe after 90 riveting minutes, especially knowing Chelsea boss Rosenior started without injured the influential Cole Palmer and captain Reece James, while Moises Caicedo was missing through suspension. 

In a bid to win this tournament for only the third time in their history, Arteta picked a strong line-up, with an equally strong bench, making eight changes to the Gunners starting XI that beat Portsmouth 4-1 down on the south coast on Sunday.

Former Blue Kepa appeared in his second cup game in a week, while Arteta was rewarded with persisting with Gyokeres in big games, after the 27-year-old returned to the starting line-up in SW6. 

After a respectful minute’s applause from both sets of supporters for Chelsea legend Eddie McCreadie who sadly died last week, the atmosphere at The Bridge erupted into an ear-splitting racket, as this capital clash kicked off. 

But the cheers from the home support had barely faded from their throats when the Gunners went ahead through White. The Arsenal defender netting his first Gunners goal since grabbing a brace back in April 2024 during Arsenal’s 5-0 rout of Chelsea in N5. 

The opener coming on seven minutes, after Blues keeper Robert Sanchez flapped at Declan Rice’s corner, as the 4,000 travelling Gooners celebrated wildly at the other end of the Bridge. 

In a similar-looking action to VAR eventually disallowing Antoine Semenyo’s controversial disallowed “goal” for Manchester City at Newcastle in the other semi-final on Tuesday evening, the powers that be at Stockley Park, decreed White’s goal would stand. The decision coming at a fraction of the five-and-a-half minutes waiting time those poor souls at St James’s Park, and millions watching on television had to endure 24 hours previously. 

It was the correct resolution. Even if the two different outcomes this week simply underlined the farcical and inconsistent nature of the wretched way VAR is operated in this country. 

The opener was Arsenal’s 24th goal from set-pieces during this campaign so far, and their 18th from a corner. No wonder the visiting fans in the away end joyfully chorused: “Set Piece FC ole, ole, ole.” 

Followed up by an ironic chant — though you do really never know when it comes to Chelsea, who have powered through 27 managers and caretaker bosses this century — when singing: “Sacked in the morning,” aimed at new boss Rosenior. 

As Arsenal dominated the home side, the sublime Zubimendi had an athletic effort that flew narrowly over Sanchez’s bar. The former Real Sociedad midfielder must surely be one of the buys of the season, after again showing his quality in red and white throughout a hard-fought match.

In a pulsating opening half-hour, Chelsea rallied, with Kepa saving from Brazil teenage talent Estevao, prior to Leo Trossard firing over for the visitors shortly afterwards. 

Six minutes before the interval, William Saliba fired narrowly over the bar from long range, following a spell of Arsenal pressure. 

As the clock ticked down towards half time, Chelsea’s Estevao somehow managed to get himself booked for calling for Trossard to be booked. The caution coming after the Arsenal forward did what they used to call “taking one for the team” in bringing down Josh Acheampong, just over the halfway line. Leaving referee Simon Hooper no option but to yellow card both miscreants on 42 minutes. 

Four minutes after the break, Gyokeres grabbed his first strike in open play for more than two months, to double the Gunners lead in front of 4,000 joyous Gooners.

The former Sporting Lisbon forward pouncing on a poor mistake by keeper Sanchez after the Chelsea keeper failed to gather the ball on the line from White’s cross. Allowing the £63.5m Gyokeres to do what he was purchased for, namely snap up chances in the box. 

Arteta was quick to praise the Arsenal striker after the match, saying: “I think he had a really good performance overall … what he brings to the team, it’s a lot sometimes. 

“I understand people cannot appreciate it, we certainly do that, and on top of that he got rewarded with a goal.”

The goal was also Gyokeres’ first since scoring a decisive penalty in the 1-0 win at Everton on December 20, albeit to make it a respectable eight for the season.

One trusts the amount of analysis aimed at the Arsenal forward will also now be applied to other misfiring strikers around the league, a number of who have netted far fewer goals than the bustling Swede. 

Yet, just as it seemed the north Londoners were mirroring City on Tuesday evening at Newcastle, in heading towards clinching a difficult away semi-final by two goals, the Blues pulled one back through Garnacho, who capitalised on a rare Zubimendi slip, as the atmosphere ramped up still further during a raucous London derby at the Bridge.

However, in an absorbing contest, the notable Zubimendi made it 3-1 for the Gunners on 71 minutes, after latching onto Gyokeres’ ball, with the Swede now turned provider. The goal coming after the exquisite Basque creative made headway in a crowded box, powered by his vision and quick feet, before unleashing a superb strike into the top corner. 

Commanding Arsenal could have made it four, when Mikel Merino’s excellent volley was kept out by Sanchez, who partially redeemed his earlier errors, the toes on his right boot somehow denying the Arsenal midfielder a vital goal, for if the ball had entered the net, the tie would have surely been over at 4-1. 

But that was before lively substitute Garnacho grabbed his second goal of an absorbing evening with seven minutes remaining, to reduce the defeat to 3-2, handing Chelsea an unexpected lifeline for the return tie. The former Old Trafford winger volleying home after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s clearance dropped at his feet to set up a thrilling grandstand finish, which ultimately saw Arsenal edge over the line to make it 10 games unbeaten in all competitions. 

Speaking after the match, the quietly impressive Rosenior praised Chelsea’s spirit, even after the total now stands at a meagre three wins in their last 13 matches. 

“The battling spirit is what made me so happy,” the 41-year-old new boss said, adding: “I’m never happy to lose a game of football, of course, but I saw an energy, I saw a determination, and I saw an intensity.”

The return leg in north London in three weeks’ time promises to be just as intense.