Ben White, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi helped us take a one-goal advantage into the second leg after a breathless 3-2 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
White headed home Declan Rice’s corner after seven minutes before Gyokeres tapped home White’s low cross in the second half. Alejandro Garnacho halved the deficit before Zubimendi rounded off a flowing move to make it 3-1.
Garnacho then found his second of the game seven minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish, but we held our nerve to ensure we took a slender lead back to Emirates Stadium on February 3.
white hot
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Mikel Arteta made eight changes to his line-up from the win against Portsmouth, but it was one of the trio who kept their place that opened the scoring. Rice's inswinging corner evaded Robert Sanchez and found the head of White, who headed home our 24th set-piece goal of the season and his first effort since netting twice against the Blues back in April 2024.
The early goal forced the hosts to try and get back into the contest - captain Enzo Fernandez was the first to test Kepa Arrizabalaga but the former Chelsea stopper comfortably held the ball. With the Blues pushing forward, we exploited the gaps in behind, with William Saliba playing a fine ball down the wing to Zubimendi. The Spaniard squared to Gyokeres but the Swede's effort was deflected wide.
Set pieces continued to cause a problem for our hosts, Zubimendi the next to have a go, but his volley went flying over Sanchez's goal.
end-to-end
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Leandro Trossard was one of the returning cohort for the trip to Stamford Bridge, and he was joined down the left by Jurrien Timber, filling in at left-back. The pair combined beautifully to put the Belgian in down the left but his effort was well blocked as the hosts survived once more.
Chelsea winger Estevao was the next to sting the palms of Kepa, drifting into the box and firing at the near post, which our stopper was equal to.
Saliba had seen a lot of the ball in the first half, making more passes than any other Arsenal player, and had an effort of his own following a set piece. Wilo found space on the edge of the area to fire just over.
early goals
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After a lightning-quick start to the first half, we did the same again in the second. A quick throw from White found Bukayo Saka down the right, who then slipped the ball back to the marauding full-back whose low cross wasn’t handled by Sanchez, allowing Gyokeres to tap home from close range.
Martin Odegaard then saw a drive from range beaten away by Sanchez, but it was our hosts who found a way back into the game on 57 minutes. Enzo managed to make it through two tackles before spreading wide where the ball was stood up to Garnacho at the back post, who was able to take a touch and blast home to reduce the deficit.
Chelsea had their tails up and looked for an equaliser. The lively Estevao cutting inside and firing but his effort was headed by Gabriel.
zubi shows class
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Following the Chelsea breakthrough, we brought on Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli and soon after, we found our third of the night.
Saka found Merino in space, who was able to drive the ball into the path of Gyokeres. Our striker held it up superbly before flicking into Zubimendi’s path and the Spanish midfielder was able to make time and space to plant his effort into the bottom corner.
Merino was having a big impact on the game and almost added his name to the scoresheet as the ball set up nicely inside the box but the midfielder’s volley was somehow kept out by the sprawling Sanchez.
But the hosts wouldn't lie down and found a way back into the game again. A Chelsea corner was not cleared properly and found its way to Garnacho, who was able to smash home to set up a nervy finish.
Despite late pressure, we held our nerve to take a lead back to Emirates Stadium next month.
what's next
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Following our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, we're back in Premier League action on Saturday, January 17, at 5.30pm, taking on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. We then round off our run of four straight away games with a trip to Milan to face Inter at San Siro in the Champions League on Tuesday, January 20.
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