This was not vintage Arsenal, far from it. Fortunately for Mikel Arteta and Co, it didn't need to be. Chelsea came to the Emirates 3-2 down after the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final but showed little ability to break down the Gunners.
Liam Rosenior had two options. They could have pressed high and gone at Arsenal, but they were more reserved and bided their time in north London.
Ultimately, it was the wrong call. The hosts showed little in the final third either, but they did come away with a 1-0 win, Kai Havertz scoring late on to secure their pathway to the final at Wembley in late March.
Havertz-Martinelli-Arsenal
Truth be told, Arsenal's job was done in the first leg and there was no need for them to really take the game to Chelsea on Tuesday. The performance in the final third did leave more questions than answers, however, which has become something of a theme in recent weeks.
Still, aside from reaching the final, there were positives for the Gunners who were resolute defensively.
The biggest positives for Arsenal after Chelsea
In all honesty, this was a tricky game to digest at the final whistle. Most of the questions were in the direction of Rosenior who despite taking the game deep, ultimately showed very little fight inside the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal, on the other hand, were not at their best either but as has been customary during the Arteta reign, it was another brilliant defensive display. Deputy goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was only required to make two saves all night.
Gabriel and William Saliba were exceptional at the back, marshalling the Chelsea attack with relative ease. Yes, Joao Pedro held the ball up well, but most of his action came so deep that they did not trouble the Gunners' backline. Indeed, just four of the Brazilian's 41 touches came in the Arsenal box.
During the course of the game, Saliba and Gabriel won 11 out of their 19 duels. They were also calm and composed from the back. Gabriel - who skippered the team on the night with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka absent - completed 92% of his passes. His French colleague completed 95% of his.
Gabriel-Kepa-Arsenal
Remarkably, this was Arsenal's 20th clean sheet of the campaign in 38 games. They have built a foundation that very few sides have been able to break through. It could well be the difference in their bid to win multiple major honours this term. They are already in one final and the hope will be that they make three more before the season concludes.
While it was a night of celebration, it was not all positive for Arsenal. Eberechi Eze had an ideal opportunity to stake his claim with Havertz benched and Odegaard absent but did not take his chance, failing to complete a cross, dribble or register a shot.
It was also another tough evening for the man in front of him; Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres' Arsenal struggles continue vs Chelsea
In recent weeks, it's not over the top to suggest that Gyokeres has enjoyed the finest spell of his Arsenal career.
Coming into the clash with Chelsea on Tuesday, the Swede had scored four goals in his last six games, including a strike at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of this tie.
Viktor Gyokeres recent form
He put in a bullish display at Elland Road just a few days ago and took his goal well, getting across the defender and prodding home. His runs are getting better and it would appear as though he is understanding more than ever what Arteta asks of him.
However, after taking some steps forward, his display in midweek was another step back. To put it simply, it's time to see what Havertz can do as the leading centre-forward again.
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The German has returned to full fitness in recent weeks and has been brilliant upon his return. He registered the assist for Gyokeres' strike against Kairat Almaty last week in the Champions League and found the net himself. The German then added to his tally in the semi-final this week, sealing a 1-0 win and carrying the Gunners to Wembley.
His goal showed everything Gyokeres hasn't since coming to London; composure. On the counter attack, Declan Rice strode forward and then swung a ball past the last line of the Chelsea defence. Havertz did not panic, he took a few touches, danced around Robert Sanchez and then tapped the ball into an empty net.
It was the sign of a player who has been missed big time and it was a reminder of what he can do when played as the no.9 in this system. In short, his return to form is bad news for Gyokeres.
Gyokeres vs Chelsea
Minutes played
Touches
Touches in opposition box
Accurate passes
Shots
Shots on target
Key passes
Possession lost
Ground duels won
Aerial duels won
The summer arrival was anonymous against Rosenior's side. There's no other way of putting it. Yes, Arsenal starved him of service as they looked to sit in and contain Chelsea but he did not do much in the build-up either.
After ten minutes, he had failed to registered touch of the ball. After 30 minutes, he had only managed a solitary touch. Once he was subbed off, Gyokeres had only had nine more touches of the ball, 38 fewer than Kepa.
To sum up the striker's anonymity, he only completed one pass all night. The former Sporting man had just one shot too, a speculative attempt from the left-hand side of the area that was blocked.
Gyokeres-Havertz-Arsenal
This was a performance that typified Gyokeres since he arrived back in English football. While his form has improved of late, there are too many matches in which he fails to help the team much in possession. Havertz would improve that significantly. It's time to let him off the leash and start him ahead of the Sweden international at the weekend.
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