LONDON — Arsenal’s semifinal struggles may not be entirely behind them, yet they are on the brink of breaking a cycle that could significantly affect their season.
The Gunners are heavy favorites to reach the Carabao Cup final after defeating Chelsea 3-2 in Wednesday’s first leg at Stamford Bridge.
Under Mikel Arteta’s leadership, Arsenal has steadily advanced over the past six years. The final hurdle for his squad is to consistently secure trophies and translate their perceived superiority into tangible results when it truly counts.
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At times, this has seemed like an overwhelming challenge. In their four semifinal appearances, including eight matches, Arteta’s Arsenal has failed to win, losing six times and managing only two goals. Last season, they suffered a 4-0 aggregate loss to Newcastle United in this competition, further fueling doubts about their ability to clinch silverware.
Their FA Cup triumph in 2020 now feels like a distant achievement. Given this backdrop, last night was a pivotal moment for Arsenal.
“It is another step but it is just halftime,” Arteta commented.
“We understand the significant challenge awaiting us at the Emirates in a few weeks because they are a top-tier team.
“In 20 minutes, I’ll start thinking about Forest, starting preparation there, and ensuring everyone recovers. That’s part of our routine. I’m very pleased with what we accomplished tonight. Now we put it to rest and focus on the next challenge.
“[This is] really good [for the momentum] as it’s a challenging venue. Witnessing them live, the quality they possess, how they can break through defenses in an instant is remarkable. That’s why I deeply appreciate what the team has done once again.”
The Gunners reaffirmed their dominance over Chelsea, who had been competitive even with 10 players during their Premier League encounter here in late November.
Of course, Chelsea has changed coaches since then, with Liam Rosenior taking over from Enzo Maresca, and he now holds the unfortunate record as the seventh consecutive manager to not win his first home game in charge.
This was always going to be a challenging task — Arsenal has not lost to Chelsea across nine games since 2021 — but substitute Alejandro Garnacho’s second-half goals have given them a glimmer of hope for an unlikely comeback.
They were on the back foot from the start when Ben White netted a seventh-minute header, helped by goalkeeper Robert Sánchez’s two critical errors that handed Arsenal the lead.
The second mistake came just after the break when Viktor Gyökeres converted from inside the six-yard box after Sánchez allowed White’s cross to slip past him.
Garnacho provided a spark for Chelsea in the 57th minute with a well-placed finish inside Kepa Arrizabalaga’s near post, before Martín Zubimendi delivered the highlight of the night, skillfully collecting a pass from Gyökeres following a well-executed play and, with a feint to open more space, finishing with his left foot. Arteta’s reaction mixed joy and disbelief.
Gyökeres marked this as perhaps his finest moment in an Arsenal jersey, producing both an assist and a goal after another solid but uneventful first half, marking his first strike from open play since November 1.
Arsenal hopes that reaching the final will provide the confidence needed to succeed in their primary pursuits, leading the table as they do in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea continued to press forward, with Garnacho netting again from the back post after a corner that Arsenal failed to clear, giving Chelsea a sliver of hope for the upcoming match on February 3. Rosenior can at least take comfort from his team’s resilience, especially considering the challenges he highlighted afterward.
“Cole [Palmer], the game came too early for him,” Rosenior stated.
“I hope he’ll be ready to train on Friday and play Saturday. He had a minor thigh strain. Rushing a player back too soon can lead to six weeks on the sidelines, and I can’t afford to lose him for that long as he is crucial to the squad.
“Reece [James] suffered a significant hip injury. He was too sore to play today. Jamie Gittens was ill last night, and Liam Delap was also unwell just hours before the match, leaving us unable to field him.
“Moi Caicedo was suspended, and Malo Gusto was unavailable. even with everything, there were several positive takeaways from our group today.”
Rosenior is navigating the fine line between asserting his authority and maintaining the humility needed while stepping up to this level.
“I have been in charge for six days, and we have played two games,” he recalled, referencing Saturday’s 5-1 FA Cup victory over Championship strugglers Charlton Athletic.
“I’m not asking for time because I believe the group is capable of winning now, but I also need to imprint my identity on the team; otherwise, there’s no purpose in my role. Striking that balance is crucial, and I hope fans will recognize the team’s development, but winning is paramount at this time.”
Progressing and winning. It’s a bit closer to where Arsenal stands currently, then.
