Arsenal defeated Chelsea 3-2 in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final to put one foot in the competition’s final. The Gunners were determined to underline their desire to win the trophy and showed their intent from the opening moments of the match. It came as little surprise when they took the lead after just seven minutes, with Ben White finding the net to give Arsenal an early advantage.
Arsenal have been the best team in England this season and were keen to prove that status again on a night when Chelsea were equally eager to demonstrate their ability to deliver in a high-pressure fixture. The opening goal set the tone for an intense contest, with both sides committing fully as Chelsea searched for an equaliser.
First Half Intensity and Arsenal Control
As Chelsea pressed forward, the match became increasingly physical, resulting in several bookings for robust challenges. Despite the high tempo and numerous confrontations, neither side was able to add to the scoreline before the interval. Both managers were left knowing that their half-time instructions could prove decisive in such a finely balanced encounter.
Arsenal responded quickest after the break, and their positive approach was rewarded when Viktor Gyokeres extended their lead shortly into the second half. The goal placed the Gunners in a commanding position and threatened to take the tie away from the home side.
Late Drama and Arsenal Resilience
Chelsea refused to concede defeat and continued to push forward with purpose. Their persistence paid off when Alejandro Garnacho scored to reduce the deficit, reigniting belief inside the stadium. Arsenal, however, showed their intent once more by extending their lead through Martin Zubimendi, a goal that appeared to put them firmly in control.
The drama was not over, as Chelsea once again fought back, with Garnacho scoring his second goal to make it a tense finish. The home side pressed relentlessly for an equaliser, leaving space at the back, but Arsenal held their nerve. The Gunners defended resolutely in the closing stages and returned home with a valuable victory and a strong advantage ahead of the second leg.
I like the” Late drama and Arsenal resilience “ part. It’s as if teams know we’ll shoot our wad in the first half and struggle in the second. Just sayin…🤔
Uh…. We scored 2 goals in the 2nd half 🙄
But we know Chelsea side have numerous players with pace and dribble to carry the ball, why then did we make it so easy for them to do that, with so much bombing forward and out of position to give them the space to attack, like that? From an evening we were sure to get result from controlling performance, we took the handbrake off, and opened it up.
It’s a cup tie, them at home, behind by two goals, chasing the game, why were we still bombing forward and conceding so much space? Chasing it, they were going to hand us openings, we didn’t have to go forcing them anymore, just protect the two goals tie lead better, and look to cooley pick them off, for both feet in the final.
It wasn’t upstairs tonight, from Arsenal. And Arteta has to carry the can, for not finishing this when Chelsea were so weakened by absences, and in trouble in the scoreline.
We won. That’s the main thing. And I’m very happy
We can play better in the next match
COYG
Unlike some others, i’ll take this scoreline heading into the second leg at our ground. Yeah, we could’ve managed the game better, especially defense wise but we came out on top. Hope we learn from it and put in work to remedy the situation ahead of upcoming fixtures. Starting from another trip to Nottingham forest. COYG!
I’m worrying about the Forest away game already, based on our “all over the shop” form and performances over the last 7 days. Recently, Forest very nearly stumped Pep’s juggernauting Man City machine. The Sunday papers could show the title race down to a virtually nothing 4 point difference.
Saka now seems anonymous out there.
Just because we didn’t play at our best last night doesn’t mean we will play the same way against Forest
Every single comment you have made is completely negative
Yes, that’s fair comment, re reading all this in cold light of day.
I could say I had mixed couple of quarts of cocktail for the game, and sank a lot before kick off, it’s true, yet right from early doors I was posting how open and playing with handbrake off we were, long before we contributed to letting them back into the tie by continuing handbrake off too long. So I stand by saying it does feel like a missed opportunity, match partially messed up by ourselves, and only 1 goal lead to take into second leg, where it can be a completely more dangerous Chelsea side put out there. So if we do get knocked out, perhaps on pens, we mustn’t forget our failure in first leg, it’s not just down to the drama in second leg.
It goes to your view to some extent “but this is beating Chelsea away” all the implications of the history of them being tough and serial trophy winners, etc. But on the night their team sheet was not all that. We were pretty much full strength and led for almost all game, two goal lead for much of the second half, where the onus was on them to throw dice chasing it. People say Chelsea fought back and were brave under new manager, but the whole game we played such a high line and press and high engagement point, key defenders bombing so far forward, the trade off is gifting Chelsea space to get into, gifting them one on one’s – I still say the right analysis is we gifted them a way back into it, should have controlled it a bit more with two goal leads.
So our incredible stats this season carries on – just two defeats in all competitions.
We also kept our unbeaten run against the Chavs going.
All you fans who kept insisting MA should take the handbrake off, well you got your wish tonight and yet I note tyour still moaning!!!
Not once did we stop going forward and try to score the goals that would make the second leg a formality – as was asked, no demanded, by some.
Yet and it comes as no surprise, we have the same Arteta knockers complaining that…. we should have shut up shop!!
The Chavs have got to come at us in the second leg, so we know EXACTLY what their tactics will be and I’m already booking my travel arrangements for our date at Wembley.
Not arrogance, not over confidence, just an unshakeable belief that we are better than them and we’ll prove it once again.
Just to remind everyone, we beat the Chavs at their place and in the first leg of a semi final of a domestic cup.
London is red – North London Forever
@Ken1945
They’ll be ready for us, next time Ken. Rosenoir has something to prove and I’m sure will take a positive from this loss.
NY – Rosenoir said he and his squad had been watching replays if our games since he arrived and said they had identified our weaknesses.
He certainly has got something to prove after that statement!
I’m sure Mikel and the boys will also be ready for the Chavs and know that, whatever plans the blues want to adopt, they’ve got to attack and the Emirates will be buzzing – can’t see anything but a win for the boys myself 🤞
@ken1945
In all fairness, they didn’t do too bad tonight, for a depleted squad…
While we had players out/returning urselves of course.
It was a great game of cup football and we’ll have to wait and see what players (from both clubs) are available for the second leg.
Forest next and that will be interesting to see what starting eleven Mikel decides to put out.
@ken145
👍🏾
To be fair Ken1945,
We were only missing 1 of our first choice starters.
I was listening and couldn’t quite get it, so correct me where wrong, but were the Arsenal fans at game tonight singing “we hate Gary Neville and all his reds, the only good United fan is the one you serve prison time for going over and absolutely whacking”?
I think maybe time to just drop it? not least perpetuating it can’t help Gabi put it behind him and out of his mind. Though I accept neither Keane or Neville were angels in their playing days, and not just hipoocrits that Neville suggesting a tug on a prone player holding up play in injury time is a wrong that can be made right by walking over to someone absolutely whacking them and serving out a sentence for that violent assault, his logic is totally ludicrous, the remark has rightly got more OffCom complaints than anything else this year.
But positive supportive singing for our team rather than chants picking fights, might help betterer? Singing their song could actually lift our players out there? Why not North London Forever instead?
At least Neville is banned from being there Saturday, as others have already worked out what a wrong un he is.
Would it help if we posted the right songs to sing here, so fans attending can practice? I’ll start us off.
To the tune of my old man’s a dustman
“Declan Rice is magic, he wears a magic hat, he could have stayed at West Ham, but he said…
Okay. Maybe not that one.
“We can hear them crying at the Lane, Eberechi he scores again, One chat with Mik Arteta he said –
And maybe not that one.
“Bukayoooo, Saka, Running down the wing, Saka, Hear the Arsenal sing, Saka, We are going to win the league!”
That would be good, as Saka is now badly struggling for form.
my old man’s a dustman again?
“Ohhhhhh, Mik Arteta called him, Said “nows your time to shine, Cos I am collecting Gabi’s, And Gunner make you mine!” They say he walks on water, Then turns it into wine, Oh I believe in Jesus, The Arsenal number nine!”
That’s betterer! I like that one. But does Gyok need the support more?
“He comes from Sweden, the girls are very nice. He dumped his girlfriend, to play in red and white. He’s scoring goals, with the cannon on his chest. His name is Viktor, Viktor Gyokeres! Dududududu”.
Do we know why this one ends with the Outer Limits theme? Rather like the transfer itself?
Maybe someone can find him another girlfriend – will that help?
🙄
Great result, sloppy ending. Only caught second half but we let slip a comfortable lead. Pressure?
Tonight Reg, it was messed up by managers handbrake off tactics. The players were rightly confident, perhaps even swagger, looking at the Chelsea team sheet, but at two nil up and three one up and in complete control of the tie why are Timber, Zubi, and Sally our furthest players forward?
The one occasion not to have the handbrake off, and only time this season he went and did.
I didn’t notice pressure per se Reggie. Cup ties frequently have a different feel about them but I thought that at 3-1 there was an element of job done in the air, which then gave the home crowd something to shout about when Garnacho scored again. Looking back, I would have attempted to shut up shop at 3-1 to try to protect the 2 goal advantage. These situations can be like walking a tightrope
It’s a fair point. But had either Gabriel or Merinos chances gone in we would be 4-1 to and then shut up shop.. definitely worth going for and we were very close…probably would have won 5-1 in the scenario
But end of day we won and we would have taken that at the start of the match…and Gyo scored however scrappy…and his first assist
Onwards and upwards…
COYG
Nope…poor subs AGAIN. Leading 3-1. Why would you put in 2 attackers at the 80th min?????
Norgard and Skelly to pack the midfield and close off the game.
And we havent learned, please NO chelski goalie rejects in important games against them, Raya would likely have saved the 2nd goal , even the 1st……. Still remember the europa
Before the match little was known how the new Chelsea manager structure his team and his system. In contrast they know us well. In such circumstances even a draw was plausible. We overcame the unknown. Well done!
Great win, lovely to see how the team kept going. No complains for onto the next game.
Even though the 2 goals conceded were disappointing, I would take a win at Stamford Bridge (even by one goal) anyday, with the return leg at the Emirates. Chelsea need a win by 2 goals (or 1 goal to take the game to penalties) and Arsenal are yet to lose at home.
Excellent result! I was hoping for a draw away then a win at home but things have gone far much better than expected. My concerns are the way we keep conceding multiple goals per game as well as City’s new impactul signing, Semenyo. Our strength is in defence and it seems to be deteriorating alarmingly. Semenyo is on fire, Doku, Cherki, Reijndiers, Foden, Haaland… all outstanding players. I’m not confident this defence will keep them quiet.
QD,
Calm down mate we’ll see on Saturday how the City make shift defence ( Alleyne and Khusmanov if remain unchanged) deals with Utd’s seasoned forwards that will be reinforced with the return of Mbuemo and Amad from Afcon.
we’ll see!
QD,
Dan released his predictions today. I’ll post mine tomorrow. I’ll check yours if you do.
@Ambachew
Man utd 1-2 Man city
Forest 1-2 Arsenal
This was a good result in the end despite some mistakes which mean that Chelsea retain some hope.
Arsenal are in a good position to progress to what should be a great final. Some top performances, especially Zubimendi, Rice, Gyokeres.
Sadly I didn’t catch the whole game so only caught the highlights, I’d have taken any win at Stamford Bridge before the game but to go 3-1 up and still give them hope is a little disappointing, hopefully we will finish them off at home and book our place in a Wembley final, up the gunners!
The return leg at the Emirates will be tougher because they might have Palmer, Caceido, James and Gusto back.
It would have been better and safer for us to have a 2 goal lead.
But I still believe we won’t lose to Chelsea at the Emirates even with their full squad.
Pedro.
Neto. Enzo. Palmer.
Caceido. James.
Cucurella. Chalobah. Fofana. Gusto.
Sanchez.
They are going to give Sanchez another go!
He was given the assist for our second.
Now unto Nottingham Forest away. The boys should not underestimate them and put in a very serious performance to get the 3 points.
So, I saw a clip on X (twitter) that showed there is a possible beef between Saka and the Gyok. And Redknap and the other commentator mentioned it after the game.
Where Saka could’ve (and should’ve) squared it into Gyokeres he played back to White and White crossed it in to Gyokeres to score. During the celebrations Gyok clearly pushes Saka away and you can see Saka notices it..
The Gyok does just need that bit ore trust (it seems) from the players around him. I really hope he does well for us and not trying to put anyone down, especially Saka, as I want the team to succeed!
Also look at the White/Gyok post match interview. There was something a bit weird about it. Side eyed to Gyok from White. Gyok not happy, and not very talkative.
Maybe there was a bit of “what’s all that about” back in the dressing room.
Good! It can’t be sweetness and loveydovey all the time, if you want to be a dressing room that wins things. Otherwise things that need to be said to take it to the next step forward won’t be said. IMO.
I’ve watched the clip! Gyokeres shoves off Saka and embraces White.. definitely bad blood there.
Saka sometimes is selfish; even he didn’t pass to Havertz when he was surging toward the Chelsea box.
@Ambachew
Saka and Odegaard don’t trust Gyokeres.
‘So, I saw a clip on X (twitter)’🙄🙄🙄
I don’t know why I have so much trouble posting on this site, but, I did try and put the links to the videos up..
Here is the actual article I saw the clips on:
https://www.givemesport.com/viktor-gyokeres-involved-incident-bukayo-saka-arsenal-chelsea/
See for yourself…
I am having trouble replying to posts, I am trying to post the links to the videos, and also I have tried to post the link to the GMS page where the videos were..
Maybe try googling “Viktor Gyokeres Involved in Eyebrow-Raising Incident With Arsenal Teammate vs Chelsea” and the page will come up as I cannot post links, it seems..
Good win tonight, and although it’s frustrating to concede the second goal I would have taken any win before the game.
We’re certainly in a better position going into the second leg than we were against Newcastle last season. So to all the poster’s that are having regrets, don’t be to down.
As for the game, well I think it fair to say that both keepers didn’t cover themselves in glory did they. From our keepers point of view, I think the first goal particularly bad, as he was beaten at his near post.
It was good to see Gyokeres get a goal and an assist. Ben White also got a goal and an assist which will please a certain poster, (you know who you are 😂). And I though Zubimendi showed great composure for his goal.
I think the team missed a trick in not adding a fourth with the two good chances that they missed.
But as I said at the beginning, I would have taken any kind of win. Now it’ll be interesting to see if we can complete the job back at the Emirates. UP THE GUNNERS 👍
I’ve just got around to watching the highlights and have to say how brilliant White was on the second goal. He started the move with a quick (repeat: quick) powerful throw into Saka, who he then sprinted past, got to the line to receive Saka’s pass, and put in the cross, which Sanchez fumbled for Gyokeres to score. Timber, good as he is, wouldn’t have had that speed.
Please dont force a choice between a top class winger and a centre who has yet to prove himself. There are so many aspects of Gyokeres’s game that needs improving, he needs to focus on that. His technical ability , timing his runs , back to goal game etc…..Arteta feels duty bound to play the 64m signing….Im not convinced yet of his contribution ahead of the others. (Jesus , Havertz and even Merino ).