**Chelsea**were not able to make home advantage count in the first leg of the Carabao Cup and secure a win against Arsenal but they remain in the tie and that is a positive.
They conceded the first goal after just seven minutes when **Ben White**was able to head home and score a simple goal after a ball was delivered from a corner. It was not the ideal start to the tie.
The second half also did not start in the way that Liam Rosenior would have wanted as a mistake from keeper Robert Sanchez allowed Viktor Gyokeres to make it 2-0.
Rosenior will take satisfaction from the fact that his subs were able to make an impact on the game. Alejandro Garnacho came on from the bench and within minutes he had pulled one back.
Even after Martin Zubimendi made it 3-1 in the 71st minute and it looked like Mikel Arteta's side would be coasting through to the final, Garnacho made it 3-2 with a similar goal to his first in the 83rd minute.
He did not have his best night but Sanchez made a great save with his feet when the score was 3-1 to keep his side in the game.
Here are four takeaways from the game:
Defensively Chelsea were not at their best
The manner in which they conceded the first two goals will not please Rosenior. Arsenal are one of Europe's deadliest sides at corners but they did not have to do anything special to score the opener. It was a crowded box and the Chelsea players arguably got in each other's way as the ball fell to an unmarked Ben White.
The second goal was a low cross into the box which should have been dealt with as it was straight at Sanchez. He had his hands on the ball but then somehow lost it and ended up helping it into the path of Gyokeres.
Throughout the game, but particularly in the first half, the Blues were opting to play out from the back and there is nothing wrong with that but multiple players did not look comfortable on the ball. Arsenal were quick to close them down and force them into playing the passes but it all looked a bit of a panic at times.
If that is the way that Rosenior wants his side to play then it may take some time and the players will also need to be able to mix up the game and know when to kick it up the field.
Questions will likely be asked of Sanchez after his performance as he has not always been assured as Chelsea's number one but, for the most part, this season he has put in good displays. He is fortunate that the goals of Garnacho have kept his side in the tie and that his mistake did not prove too crucial.
Garnacho the saviour
Since joining Chelsea in the summer, Garnacho has not featured as much as he would have liked, but his goals in the cup have proved key. He was able to turn the game on its head against Arsenal.
His energy levels caused Arsenal problems and he demonstrated a cleverness for his goals, he was able to wait at the back post in space and when the ball fell to him he delivered a great finish. They were good strikes and certainly lifted the mood inside Stamford Bridge.
Due to injuries and illness, Chelsea were a bit light up front in terms of a goal threat at times so much of that threat came from Garnacho's desire and spirit once he entered the pitch.
Estevao also impressed
Teenager **Estevao**was also a bright spark and some fans may say it was one of his best performances in a Chelsea shirt. In the first half, he looked to be the most likely to grab a goal and forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into some saves.
He also demonstrated good energy levels and was not afraid to be the one who wanted to step forward and take responsibility to try and make things happen, particularly when it was not going their way. Rosenior may be looking to make the young Brazilian a key player in his future plans.
Chelsea were missing key players
They were without Cole Palmer, Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Liam Delap so that left them light in certain areas of the pitch.
Due to these players missing, it could further strengthen this result because they remain very much in the tie. The second leg is not for three weeks and Arsenal will come into it as favourites because they are at home and, of course, have a one goal lead. That said, Chelsea will hope that some of their key players will be back by then and that they can have a good crack at progressing.
Overall, some of the defensive performances from the first leg will leave Rosenior with work to do but he will likely come away from the game feeling pretty positive.
Arteta played pretty much his strongest eleven and his changed Chelsea side were able to compete and give them a good competition, especially in the second half when the game could have got away from them.
Arsenal will probably be frustrated that they could not put the match beyond the reach of their rivals but it is set up nicely for another entertaining second leg.