Carabao Cup: Arsenal boost treble hopes as Chelsea win books final spot

Arsenal are quietly putting together a season that could turn very special. On Tuesday night at the Emirates, they did just enough to get past Chelsea and book their place in the Carabao Cup final, winning 1–0 on the night and 4–2 on aggregate. No fireworks, no chaos — just control, patience and a late moment that settled everything.

The win keeps Arsenal firmly in the conversation for a treble, and even a possible quadruple if they stay alive in the FA Cup too. They are still competing on multiple fronts, and this result ensures at least one trip to Wembley is locked in. Chelsea made things awkward, but they never really forced Arsenal out of their comfort zone.

Speaking after the match, Mikel Arteta was satisfied with both the result and the manner of it, while Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior pointed to progress despite another defeat.

“We are so happy. I think overall, over the two games, we deserved to be through,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “It was a long match. We expected that. We wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way, with Kai scoring the goal in the manner that he did and the reaction from the crowd.”

The match itself followed a familiar pattern. Arsenal were happy to keep the ball, manage the tempo and wait for Chelsea to make mistakes. Chelsea, to their credit, stayed organised and competitive but struggled to turn possession into clear chances. Kepa Arrizabalaga was rarely tested, with Enzo Fernandez’s first-half effort from distance the only moment that briefly asked a question.

The breakthrough finally arrived deep into stoppage time. Declan Rice picked out Kai Havertz with a cross, the substitute showed composure to round Robert Sanchez, and the empty net did the rest. It was a neat end to a tie that Arsenal had largely controlled across both legs.

Rosenior, still early in his tenure, focused on the positives. “I think everyone can see a difference in our performances,” he said. “That’s really pleasing. Obviously, losing the game is not what we wanted. I’ve been in for less than a month, we’ve had eight games, and the spirit and togetherness in the team was there.”

For Arsenal, the bigger picture keeps getting brighter. A Carabao Cup final awaits, the league race remains alive, Europe is still in play, and the FA Cup could yet add another layer to their ambitions.

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