Chelsea conceded one goal in their EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal, who clinched a 4-2 win on aggreagate to seal their spot at Wembley. The Blues saw their hopes crashed by former striker Kai Havertz, who now plays in north London. The German sealed the win for his club with a dramatic 97th-minute goal that saw him round goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Despite Chelsea spending the vast majority of the second half in Arsenal’s final third, but they were unable to find inroads and create any serious attacking impetus. It didn’t bode well for the visitors, and late on, they were punished with Havertz’s goal.
Declan Rice launched a brilliant counter-attack in what would be one of the last touches of the game. The ball eventually got to Havertz, who got past Sanchez and rolled the ball into an open net, to the delight of the Emirates faithful.
It’s worth noting that the German striker celebrated by pointing to the Arsenal badge on his jersey, depsite playing against his former club. He has now scored his 31st goal in 93 games for the Gunners, and could potentially help them secure the EFL Cup this season, if they can beat Manchester City in the final.
Liam Rosenior’s Impressive Start Ends in Heartbreak
It was a defeat that brought heartbreak to Liam Rosenior’s exciting start in the Stamford Bridge dugout. The former Strasbourg manager joined up with the Blues on January 6, after Enzo Maresca ended his tenure at the club. Since his first day managing Chelsea, Rosenior has enjoyed a strong run of six wins and two losses. He notably beat Charlton 5-1 in his FA Cup debut.
He also led Chelsea to a comeback in their Premier League match against West Ham, clinching a 3-2 win after the Hammers had gone 2-0 up by halftime. His two losses, so far, have come against Arsenal. This won’t be too much of a concern for the Blues, as their London neighbors are recognizably one of the best teams in Europe currently.
Meanwhile, this will be Mikel Arteta’s opportunity to win another trophy, as this is their first final since the FA Cup in 2020. They clinched that particular trophy, but it will be a monotonous task for the Gunners to deal Manchester City a similar blow in this EFL Cup final.