CHELSEA 2-3 ARSENAL: The Gunners will take an advantage into their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, but a one-goal lead doesn't truly reflect their dominance
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior after Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior after Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal(Image: )
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This was some baptism of fire for Liam Rosenior. And it laid bare the size of the task in front of the new Chelsea manager after his first game in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal were so much better for huge chunks of the game and even threatened to run away with the semi final with even Viktor Gyokeres getting in on the action. Gyokeres scored, provided an assist and it was one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt as Mikel Arteta finally ended his semi final curse.
But Rosenior owes a huge debt of gratitude to two-goal substitute Alejandro Garnacho for keeping Chelsea in the tie and to at least give them a fighting chance in next month’s return leg.
It was also another brilliant advert for this competition as Newcastle and Manchester City served up a cracker in their semi final 24 hours earlier.
And this was a brilliant London derby to keep everyone on the edge of their seats with a sensational mix of goals, thrills and terrible keeper howlers from Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez.
It also keeps Arsenal firmly in the hunt for four trophies even if the final scoreline did not really reflect their dominance and the fact they could - and should - have put the tie to bed.
However, it was Arteta’s first win in nine semi final ties - Arsenal had lost six, drawn two and been eliminated each time across three different competitions - before this showdown at Stamford Bridge.
And you could tell Arsenal really want to win this trophy because Arteta went nearly full strength and was rewarded with a victory. Chelsea did not have such a luxury with Moises Caicedo suspended while Cole Palmer and Reece James were injured which left them under strength.
Arsenal were ahead in seven minutes. Jurrien Timber chased down the ball, won a corner from Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and it is always a danger when Arsenal have a set-piece.
Ben White celebrates with team-mates
Ben White opened the scoring after a Robert Sanchez blunder(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Declan Rice swung the ball over, Chelsea keeper Sanchez got it all wrong and stayed virtually rooted to the spot to leave an absolute gift for Ben White to head home from point blank range.
Incredibly, that was Arsenal’s 24th goal from a set-piece across all competitions this season which had the away end chanting: “Set piece again, ole, ole.”
It was a hammer blow for Chelsea who had started aggressively and you could see Rosenior urging his players on from the touchline.
Chelsea were pressing, battling and Rosenior looked as if he was kicking every ball with his players. His pre-match introduction had been low key but the Chelsea fans were loud and pumped and loud.
Estevao Willian looks one hell of a prospect but you could see Arsenal were clearly the better, more accomplished side.
Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea celebrates
Alejandro Garnacho scored twice to keep Chelsea in the tie(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Arsenal then got a second from an unlikely source: Gyokeres. ukayo Saka found White on the overlap, his low cross was spilled horribly by Sanchez and there was Gyokeres to force home from inside the six yard box.
Chelsea hauled themselves back into the contest after 57 minutes. Pedro Neto did brilliantly down the right, put over a cross to substitute Garnacho who drilled into the net with Arsenal’s defence fully stretched.
Arsenal’s third was pure class. Substitute Mikel Merino fed Gyokeres and his clever lay-off set up Martin Zubimendi and he did a lovely shuffle before rifling into the net.
At that point, Merino and Gabriel missed chances to put the game to bed. Then when Arsenal failed to clear a corner, Garnacho drilled in his second to give Chelsea hope.