Arsenal took a step closer to winning their first major silverware since 2020 as they beat Chelsea to reach the Carabao Cup final.
Leading 3-2 from the first leg, the Gunners had to wait until the 97th minute to seal their progress on a tense evening at the Emirates Stadium.
Substitute Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the night deep into injury time, rounding goalkeeper Robert Sanchez before slotting home.
Mikel Arteta’s men, who are top of the Premier League and still involved in three cup competitions, will face either Manchester City or Newcastle in the final at Wembley next month.
The hosts started the game in the ascendancy but, with Chelsea lining up with a back five, chances were limited in the first half.
Blues boss Liam Rosenior brought on attackers Estevao and Cole Palmer on the hour mark in an attempt to spark his team into life, but Arsenal were able to keep them at bay.
That laid the platform for Havertz, who has only recently returned from injury, to seal Arsenal’s aggregate victory with a cool finish in the closing seconds.
The Gunners, whose last major silverware came by virtue of an FA Cup victory over Chelsea, last reached the League Cup final in 2018.
Arsenal analysis: The start of significant period for Gunners
The noise from the home supporters as Havertz’s late strike rolled into the net signalled the significance of this victory for Arsenal.
The Gunners have not won a major trophy since they lifted the FA Cup in Arteta’s first season in charge and, after three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League, reaching a final feels like an important step in the grand plan to secure silverware.
Arteta was part of the backroom staff when Manchester City won their first trophy under Pep Guardiola, and saw the impact it had as they started a period of dominance.
Arsenal have built a squad packed with quality and are having an excellent season. They are top of the Premier League, through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, have a clean sweep of eight victories in the Champions League so far – and now a place in the EFL Cup final.
Arteta has high demands on his side, and dreams of winning silverware feel well within reach.
Chelsea analysis: Rosenior tactics show improved display
Rosenior flexed his tactical muscles for the first time since his appointment as Chelsea manager four weeks ago.
Until now, the Englishman had largely continued with predecessor Enzo Maresca’s system, reluctant to overload his players with too much information too soon.
However, after winning six of his first seven games, including his opening four Premier League matches, Rosenior delivered a surprise for his opposite number.
For the first time since March 2024, under Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea lined up with three centre-backs. Thomas Tuchel had adopted the format during the club’s 2021 Champions League triumph, and Antonio Conte in the 2017 Premier League title win.
Rosenior also took an additional gamble by leaving three players high up the pitch to counter-attack when Arsenal took corners. The approach gave Arsenal the opportunity to outnumber Chelsea in the box, but committing the same number of players forward would have left them exposed to breaks.
Arsenal adapted by bringing more men back to cover, allowing goalkeeper Sanchez the space to claim crosses – one of his key strengths.
It was in stark contrast to how Chelsea coped in the first leg, conceding from a corner early on and letting in three goals from set-pieces.
For 45 minutes, Arsenal’s front four barely touched the ball and Rosenior’s adjustments paid off. Fernandez forced a save just before half-time in a cagey opening period.
Chelsea made a double attacking substitution on 59 minutes, with Palmer and Estevao replacing Jorrel Hato and Liam Delap, to restore Chelsea to their more familiar shape. Alejandro Garnacho later joined the fray as another attacking option, coming on for midfielder Andrey Santos.
Yet Arsenal, so assured defensively this season, largely kept the door shut. They conceded only a half-chance – Wesley Fofana’s near-post flick from an 82ndβminute corner – and a handful of longβrange efforts from the inβform Fernandez.
As they pushed for a goal to keep the tie alive, a familiar face in Havertz broke Chelsea’s hearts.
It felt harsh for Chelsea to lose on the night, but even in defeat Rosenior can take encouragement from a significantly improved display compared to the first leg, where the tie had effectively slipped away.
