Meet up with all of the motion from the EFL Cup semi-final second leg in North London
Arsenal secured their place at Wembley with a 1-0 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night time, sealing a 4-2 mixture victory in a tense EFL Cup semi-final second leg on the Emirates Stadium.
The hosts got here into the tie holding a slender mixture benefit and, from the outset, appeared content material to handle the sport relatively than chase an early breakthrough.
Chelsea, needing a objective to carry the tie stage, adopted a cautious strategy of their very own, establishing in a compact 3-5-2 form.
The primary half was brief on clear possibilities. Arsenal dominated possession however struggled to show management into significant openings, with Viktor Gyokeres largely remoted up entrance.
Chelsea’s most promising moments got here via Enzo Fernandez, who twice examined Kepa from vary, whereas Piero Hincapie compelled Robert Sanchez into a wise save on the different finish.
The goalless scoreline on the break mirrored a contest performed largely between the packing containers.
Chelsea confirmed extra intent after the restart, progressively committing further our bodies ahead because the second half wore on.
Fernandez continued to probe from distance, whereas late substitutions, together with Cole Palmer and Alejandro Garnacho, had been launched in an try and inject urgency into the assault.
The sport’s key second appeared to reach within the closing phases when Arsenal broke shortly and Gabriel Martinelli went to floor underneath a problem from Trevoh Chalobah.
VAR reviewed the incident however dominated that the contact was pure, leaving Chelsea annoyed and nonetheless looking for a manner again into the tie.
As Chelsea pushed numbers ahead in stoppage time, gaps began appearing. That proved expensive within the 97th minute.
Declan Rice led a swift counter-attack from midfield and picked out Kai Havertz with a wonderfully weighted via ball. The previous Chelsea ahead rounded Sanchez and rolled the ball into the underside nook to settle the tie.
Chelsea had little time to reply, and Arsenal noticed out the ultimate moments to verify their development to the ultimate.
Whereas the efficiency was managed relatively than fluent, Mikel Arteta’s facet did sufficient throughout each legs to earn a spot at Wembley, the place they are going to now look so as to add an elusive piece of silverware to their season.
