By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 17:12 EST, 3 February 2026 | Updated: 17:13 EST, 3 February 2026
What´s shaping up to be a banner season for Arsenal is going to include a trip to Wembley Stadium for the English League Cup final.
Arsenal held firm before scoring in stoppage time through Kai Havertz to beat visiting Chelsea 1-0 on Tuesday and seal a 4-2 victory on aggregate over its London rival.
Mikel Arteta´s team leads the Premier League by six points in its bid to become English champion for a first time since 2004, and also finished top of the Champions League standings after eight straight wins.
For good measure, Arsenal has advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup too.
Arsenal will play Manchester City or Newcastle in the March 22 final. City leads 2-0 heading into the second leg at home on Wednesday.
Much of the hard work was done last month in winning 3-2 at Stamford Bridge and the return match was mostly cagey.
Arsenal's Kai Havertz, right, celebrates with Arsenal's William Saliba after scoring the opening goal during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Havertz, a former Chelsea player, had the final say by latching onto Declan Rice's pass on a counterattack and rounding goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to slot home.
The finish wasn't too dissimilar to the one which saw off Man City and clinched the Champions League title for Chelsea in 2021.
Arsenal will be looking for a third League Cup title, after 1987 and 1993. The club has been the runner-up six times, most recently to City in 2018.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Chelsea's Malo Gusto reacts after sustaining an injury during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Chelsea's Estevao, second right, and Arsenal's Piero Hincapie challenge for the ball during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Chelsea's Wesley Fofana, right, kicks the ball during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Chelsea's Liam Delap reacts during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)