Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal - Carabao Cup Semi Final 1st Leg

Stamford Bridge felt like two different games stitched together.

For 70 minutes, Arsenal looked like they were about to kill the tie. They were sharper, stronger, and way more ruthless in the moments that matter — especially at set-pieces.

But then Chelsea found the one thing this squad has been missing for too long…

A forward who turns chaos into goals.

Alejandro Garnacho comes off the bench, scores twice, and suddenly this semi-final is alive.

Arsenal leave with the advantage — but that late second goal changes the psychological weight of this tie completely.

The Story of the Game

1) Arsenal’s “cheat code” strikes again

Seven minutes in, and it’s the most Arsenal goal imaginable right now: Declan Rice corner, Ben White free, header in.

And the maddest part? That goal wasn’t a one-off — it was Arsenal’s 24th set-piece goal this season, and their 18th from corners. That is insane consistency.

Chelsea never fully recovered emotionally from conceding like that at home — and it didn’t help that the first goal had a big “keeper uncertainty” feel to it.

2) The second goal nearly ended it

Right after half-time, Arsenal do it again — but this time it’s not a design. It’s a gift.

White drills a low ball across, Sánchez fumbles, and Gyökeres taps in. 0-2.

That’s the moment you could feel the air leave the stadium: “here we go again.”

3) Garnacho flips the temperature

Rosenior reacts, throws on Garnacho, and suddenly Chelsea have a different texture in attack.

The first goal is simple and deadly: Neto’s ball across, Garnacho at the far side, finish. 1-2.

But Arsenal are a team with real control now. When Chelsea finally start to swing momentum, Arsenal do the cold thing elite teams do:

They score.

Gyökeres slides a pass inside, Zubimendi shows composure and rifles it home. 1-3.

4) The late goal that keeps the dream alive

Most Chelsea teams recently concede that third and fold.

This one didn’t.

Garnacho stays aggressive, stays hunting second balls, and when it drops near the edge, he hits a shot through bodies and it squeezes in. 2-3.

And now? Now it’s not “damage limitation.” It’s one-goal deficit going to the Emirates on February 3.

Mini Statframe (why it felt like Arsenal were on top)

Chelsea had more of the ball — but Arsenal had more of the threat.

Shots: 10–17

Shots on target: 5–6

Touches in opp box: 19–33

Possession: 57.7% Chelsea

That “touches in the box” number tells the whole story: Chelsea circulated. Arsenal arrived.

Tactical Takeaways (what decided the first leg)

1) Possession without punch

Chelsea had the ball (nearly 58%), and the passing numbers were healthy — but Arsenal were comfortable letting Chelsea have it in safe zones, then turning every transition into a fight.

2) Arsenal’s physical edge set the tone

This was Arsenal imposing themselves: duels, second balls, pressure in the box. The Guardian described it as “power and aggression,” and honestly that’s exactly what it looked like.

3) Set-pieces remain a massive swing factor

If Arsenal can basically spot themselves a goal a game from corners, it changes every tie. Chelsea cannot go to the Emirates and concede another set-piece goal — not with this margin.

4) Rosenior’s big positive: he changed it

Whatever you think of individual mistakes, the key is this: Rosenior affected the game.

He didn’t watch it drift away — Garnacho comes on, Chelsea become direct, and the crowd actually gets something to believe in.**