Carabao Cup: Kai Havertz Breaks Chelsea's Resolve As Arsenal Claim Dramatic Derby Victory

 

Arsenal have secured their place in the Carabao EFL Cup final, following a stunning defeat of Chelsea in a London derby at Emirates Stadium.

Kai Havertz delivered a moment of late drama, scoring deep into stoppage time to give Arsenal a 1–0 victory over Chelsea in a tense and hard-fought match that was destined for a stalemate.

The Gunners found the breakthrough at the very end, as Declan Rice darted down the left and released a cross-pitch pass to Havert near the edge of the box. The striker rounded Robert Sanchez before slotting the ball into the empty net. 

It was a tightly contested match and opportunities were scarce. Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli both saw promising efforts blocked, while Piero Hincapié forced Robert Sánchez into a low stop from outside the area.

The Blues had a handful of scoring chances as well. Marc Cucurella and Fernández both fired over from promising positions, while Cole Palmer’s introduction added creativity and urgency in the final third. Arsenal, however, remained composed, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães producing a series of crucial blocks and clearances.

Liam Rosenoir, who replaced Enzo Maresca, missed the opportunity of leading the club to his maiden final. Reaching the Carabao Cup final will be Mikel Arteta's first in league competition since 2020.