Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1 (2-1 on agg): Gunners strike lucky as they come from behind to reach final
There is a post-Alexis Sánchez liberation to Arsenal who showed the character, belief and a new-found togetherness to come from behind and defeat Chelsea to reach the Carabao Cup final.
Having cursed their misfortune throughout the draining Sánchez saga, before he finally departed for Manchester United, Arsenal benefited from two huge slices of luck to win this semi-final.
Oh no, Antonio. Not just Antonio Conte – with the Chelsea head coach a study in frustration on the touchline – but his defender Antonio Rudiger who scored an own goal and then with another hapless intervention deflected the ball into the path of Granit Xhaka so the midfielder could poke home the winner on the hour. Both were pinball goals, the ball ricocheting around the Chelsea penalty area before finding the net.
For Arsène Wenger this was the sweetest of victories, gained also through a smart tactical switch at half-time – when Chelsea were dominant – as he reverted to a three-man defence, pushing Mohamed Elneny back from midfield. Chelsea failed to cope.
That Xhaka and Elneny, often so maligned by the home fans, were two of Arsenal’s most impressive performers – along, again, with Jack Wilshere - will have been all the more satisfying for Wenger who has now set up a Wembley showpiece for a 10th time in under four years. And Wenger has won on all those previous nine visits.
Arsenal vs Chelsea shots on goal
That includes three FA Cup final triumphs, the latest only last May, when Chelsea were defeated – Sánchez scored the first goal in that 2-1 win – and it is just one defeat in eight encounters for Arsenal against them. Given the dominance Chelsea used to enjoy over Wenger that is another satisfying recent turn of events for him.
The League Cup is a trophy that has eluded him, though, with Arsenal having last won it in 1993 and their most recent appearance in the final was the shambolic defeat by Birmingham City in 2011. Seven years later – a lucky seven Wenger will hope – Arsenal are back and although they will, of course, be underdogs against Manchester City on Feb 25 then they were also for the two legs of this semi-final against Chelsea.
Arsenal 0 - 1 Chelsea (Eden Hazard, 7 min)
Conte will lick his wounds. A League Cup will not define his time at Chelsea, or influence his future, but this was a bitter disappointment not least because he evidently feels his squad is stretched, especially up-front with Alvaro Morata injured and little faith in Michy Batshuayi. They are too dependent on Eden Hazard.
The Italian will have noted that transfer target Edin Dzeko scored for Roma while this tie was unfolding and he will also have to deal with the loss of Willian to injury. His departure proved crucial, in fact, as up until the Brazilian limped off in the first-half Chelsea were dominant and for his replacement Ross Barkley, making his first appearance since his £15 million move from Everton, and playing his first game since last May, it was a tough start.
Arsenal 1 - 1 Chelsea (Antonio Rüdiger, 12 min)
Having thumped Crystal Palace, in the Premier League, in the first game since it was confirmed that Sanchez was definitely leaving, this was another impressive riposte even if Wenger admitted that his team appeared “scared to go for it” during the first-half.
That they rallied after conceding such a poor goal was to their credit, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, swapped for Sanchez, watching from the stands as he is ineligible for this competition having featured for United in their shock quarter-final defeat away to Bristol City.
Mkhitaryan will have shuddered when Arsenal were torn apart inside 10 minutes in a moment that, briefly, knocked the wind out of them. Pedro already had the ball in the net – a header correctly ruled out for offside – and Shkodran Mustafi had already lazily made a mistake, with a sloppy pass, before both players were involved and Hazard opening the scoring.
N’Golo Kanté was allowed to stride forward and play a simple pass into Pedro and with Laurent Koscielny committed his defensive partner Mustafi simply did not track Hazard who easily stole through to collect Pedro’s delivery and calmly stroke his low shot into the net, off goalkeeper David Ospina. Little wonder Arsenal are keen to sign Jonny Evans.
It also stunned Arsenal into action with Chelsea’s reserve goalkeeper Willy Caballero having to react quickly to deny first Wilshere, as he broke through, and then Nacho Monreal with the follow-up.
The goalkeeper was hurt. And then he was beaten. Arsenal won a corner, met by Monreal, such an unlikely goal threat, with his header ricocheting first off Marcos Alonso’s head and then Rudiger’s before flying past Caballero.
Rudiger was unfortunate there and was again with the decisive goal. This time, into the second-half, he tracked Alexandre Lacazette’s run, along with Andreas Christensen, and as the striker tried to cut the ball back it rebounded off Rudiger’s leg and squirted goalwards for Xhaka to pounce.
Arsenal 2 - 1 Chelsea (Granit Xhaka, 60 min)
Once ahead, oddly, Arsenal were rarely in trouble and they went closest to scoring again when Mesut Ozil broke and squared the ball to Alex Iwobi who elected to shoot first-time, allowing Caballero to block with his legs. Would Arsenal pay the price? There was pressure from Chelsea, Conte ran through his substitutions, but worryingly for them they did not carve out an opening.
“We are happy to take our fans to Wembley,” Wenger said, having had a pre-match dig at teams who are lauded despite not winning trophies. “We’ve been there a few times now,” he added, smiling.
Antonio Conte post-match
"Hmm yeh my thoughts. Disappointment for the final result, my players I must be pleased of all my players, we try to reach the final, I think we conceded two goals in uhhh unlucky. Two deflections, it's difficult to see during a game and it's a pity because we had a good run. It's a pity for me, the players and our fans.
"We started very well, a good first half, also in second half I saw a lot of balance and then there is an injury, one of the best players it's not simple."
Arsene Wenger post-match words
"Tactical reasons a little bit, we gave too much respect, distances, we were not in the right positions on the field and we corrected that in the second half. We knew we could do better.
"It shows it's linked with confidence and belief, once you score you know you can score.
"First half we watched them play a little bit and they strolled through our lines. Second half we didn't give them much room and started to dominate.
"Uncertainty. We lost a great player but it's true when the team doesn't know what's going on in the dressing room there's less clarity and we know we have to deal with that.
"We have some time to prepare for that but we are happy to bring our fans to Wembley again. We are happy to get there again."
Shots on goal
Arsenal vs Chelsea shots on goal
To be fair, Arsenal got really lucky with both of their goals. You make your own luck by working hard. Monreal attacked the cross with menace, Alonso tried to get his head out of the way, Rudiger didn't know what was happening.
For Xhaka's goal, Lacazette was trying to pass back, the block accidentally turned the pass into a cross, Arsenal win the game.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Average positions
Average touch positions (0 min)
It's a really weird set up. Elneny was basically a third centre-back, a half-back or something similar. He dropped, Koscielny went wide right and that let Bellerin and Monreal nip forward. Wilshere just said "we got our formation wrong in the first half", Xhaka says "We changed the system in the second half. We didn't start very well."
Another cup final for Arsenal
Who needs Sanchez etc
FULL TIME
Arsenal are on their way to Wembley! Two pinball goals have made the difference for Arsene Wenger.
90 mins +3
Arsenal still closing down Chelsea players all over the pitch. Kolasinac can't control a pass from the box, Wilshere then can't keep the ball away from tackling Chelsea players... Hazard sends in a cross from the left... and Ospina catches. Arsenal look good to hang on here. Do Chelsea have one last attack in them?
90 mins +2
Chelsea throwing men forwards now. Alonso having to work hard on the left wing but he can't quite get anything into the box for his teammates to make use of, Conte looks defeated on the touchline.
89 mins
Alonso lines up a free-kick from distance. Chelsea fans wait... nervous... could this be it?
Out: Arsenal 2 - 1 Chelsea (Marcos Alonso, 88 min)
Absolutely not. Dreadful effort.
Arsenal vs Chelsea shots on goal
86 mins
Can Arsenal hang on? Chelsea have used all their subs, Arsenal have just made two of theirs, with Ramsey and Kolasinac on for Iwobi and Lacazette. That's a good three minutes of wasted time right there. Ospina is hitting long goal kicks forward, Arsenal contesting the second ball to keep Chelsea in their own half.
83 mins
Barkley's delivery from corners is excellent. He bends one into the six yard box and Rudiger heads, the ball disappears above the heads of everyone gathered in the box... and it's a goal kick.
81 mins
Chelsea take their turn to attack now. A curled pass to the back post finds Alonso, and his shot wins a corner. The big defenders come up for it.
78 mins
ARSENAL MUST SCORE! They have men over, Iwobi is completely free in the middle! The cross comes in low... and he shoots straight at the goalkeeper. That boy's finishing or composure - one of them - needs a lot of work.
Attempt Saved: Arsenal 2 - 1 Chelsea (Alex Iwobi, 76 min)
75 mins
Barkley wins a free-kick in the centre-circle, Hazard comes forward, Alonso joins in, Arsenal get back behind the ball... Alonso shoots from miles out. Way over the bar.
73 mins
71 mins
Lacazette is shoved off the ball by Kante, who gets his last warning from the referee.
68 mins
Chelsea pushing men forward to stop Arsenal passing it around their own half. They're moving the ball quickly though, not allowing a defender to close down.
66 mins
Batshuayi on for Pedro. Conte looking for a way back into this one.
65 mins
Iwobi survives a strong challenge at the half way line, as a clearly annoyed N'Golo Kante goes flying into him. Arsenal look good at the moment.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!
Great play from Lacazette!
Arsenal 2 - 1 Chelsea (Granit Xhaka, 60 min)
He runs into the channel, holds the ball up and manages to get it into the area. Xhaka is there and pokes it past the goalkeeper.
59 mins
Possession: Arsenal vs Chelsea
58 mins
Good photo of Caballero there for you. Arsenal keep the ball for ages and then hit one over the top - each time the furthest player forward is offside.
56 mins
Elneny has dropped into a centre-back position to start the build-up from the back. Ozil has swapped positions too and is now playing deep firing passes into teammates. Iwobi ruins the move again.
53 mins
Hazard is in behind! He's away and must be able to get away from the last man! But he trips himself up! Is that a foul?! It looks like Hazard is just running so fast that he's clipped his own heels.
50 mins
Elneny hauls Hazard to the floor contesting a high ball. Arsenal win the ball soon after adn get forward but Iwobi passes into Chelsea feet, it's deflected, and they start building play again.
Wilshere still looking to get involved and link everything. Chelsea defending well. Hazard is away now though on the counter... and a terrific challenge comes in from (I think) Koscielny to steal the ball away from him.
47 mins
Chelsea make the pitch nice and big as they bring the ball forward. Barkley switches play nicely to Moses, he has to go backwards.
Monreal latches onto a loose pass, drives forward and wins a free-kick at half way.
KICK-OFF 2
We're back.
Barkley's first touch
This was his first involvement as a Chelsea player. He's been better since.
Arsenal's confused shape
Average touch positions (half time)
They've not played well and it's not clear exactly who's where. It's meant to be a 4-3-3 but since Wilshere is trying to do a lot by himself and Xhaka is also making his way into strange wide positions, it's making the shape a little off.
HALF TIME
A draw is probably the fair result at half time. Arsenal aren't playing very well, Chelsea being forced wide and trying to cross into small forwards.
45 mins +3
SO CLOSE OZIL! Great movement, a wonderful turn and then a shot on his right foot between Christensen, which takes a series of bounces before going behind for a corner. This time Monreal doesn't score.
45 mins +3
Elneny lines up a shot 25 yards out as Arsenal get everyone into Chelsea's half but his ambitious demands for a handball from Kante, who can't do much about getting out of the way of said shot, don't work.
45 mins
Chelsea are in control of the game at the moment, putting dangerous crosses into the area but towards the head of Hazard. He's good but not especially tall... and Arsenal can't break from their own box. Wilshere taking it upon himself to show for every ball and direct play.
43 mins
Alonso has space on the left but his cross is blocked. Pedro overlaps, blocked, Bakayoko links play well and finds Hazard, who is pushed back towards the halfway line. Arsenal getting everyone behind the ball and defending well.
40 mins
Ozil is barged out of the way as three players close him down quickly. That's a clear foul and should be a booking... but isn't. Chelsea obviously worried about what Ozil can do on the ball. He chips the free-kick into the area but Monreal's header goes straight to the goalkeeper.
38 mins
Lacazette is just offside as he runs in behind the defence onto a long ball from deep. VAR would have made him onside. Controversy!
35 mins
That's Hazard's goal from earlier in the game.
34 mins
Barkley gets revenge on Koscielny with a slide tackle on the right of the Chelsea box. Free-kick in a dangerous position.
Xhaka steps up... and shoots! It hits the wall and loops onto the roof of the net! So close.
Xhaka gets the corner short to feet, hooks the ball into the box - it's a great delivery - but Chelsea head away. And someone's offside anyway.
32 mins
His first involvement is for Koscielny to shove him over the goal line and nearly into the advertising boards. Welcome back, Ross.
Average touch positions (30 min)
Wilshere will definitely be booked down for a really poor slide challenge on Hazard. That's another wild lunge. Nowhere near the ball.
30 mins
Iwobi stands up to Moses this time and prevents him from dribbling past from the right. Koscielny steps out of defence to carry the ball, Ozil pops up on the right of midfield but Xhaka's return pass is awful and hands possession back.
Barkley is on!
28 mins
Willian's teammates are concerned about him as he leans over with his hands on his knees. The medical team accompany him off the pitch and he looks like his day might be done.
Ross Barkley is getting ready to come on.
25 mins
Wilshere dives into a challenge on Hazard and is lucky the Belgian doesn't go down as it would be a certain yellow card. Hazard plays on and Chelsea keep possession.
Chelsea win a corner, Hazard takes it from a short pass and finds Moses, who shoots but hits a sea of players. Azpilicueta follows it up and tries a narrow angle cross to the back post... Ospina comes off his line! A shot is saved... the ball is loose! Arsenal survive.
23 mins
Possession: Arsenal vs Chelsea
Chelsea aren't giving Arsenal any space in the centre of the pitch, snapping at them as soon as they carry the ball past the halfway line.
21 mins
Willian takes on Monreal and drags a shot wide from just inside the box. Decent chance and great work from the Brazilian.
Miss: Arsenal 1 - 1 Chelsea (Willian, 20 min)
18 mins
Chelsea working the ball around the Arsenal half nicely... until a switched pass to Alonso is overhit by Azpilicueta and goes straight out for a throw-in.
16 mins
Moses completely bins Iwobi on the right and gets to the byline to cross into the middle. Elneny puts it behind for a corner.
Bodies go flying as various players dive in to try and head away, Willian wins another corner.
14 mins
That's Pedro scoring his offside header earlier. Chelsea have reacted and pushed a little further forward now.
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!
PINBALL!
Arsenal 1 - 1 Chelsea (Antonio Rüdiger, 12 min)
And it's Monreal! Two goals in two games from corners for the left-back! Ozil hits a high corner to the back of the box, Monreal heads it and it pings off the head of Alonso and then off the head of Rudiger to hit the back of the net. A thoroughly silly goal.
12 mins
Caballero is down receiving treatment on what I think is his knee. Well, I know it's his knee, I mean that he appears to have an injury on his knee.
Arsenal push Chelsea back but Conte's team has this exactly how they want it, sitting deep to absorb pressure and ready to pounce. Iwobi keeps a forward move alive, Bellerin joins in and sends a teasing cross to the back post but nobody is there to take advantage. Corner.
9 mins
Chelsea have an away goal! But that only counts if we go extra-time. Arsenal need not panic just yet.
The defenders reacted instantly to Elneny for that goal, Mustafi looked so frustrated.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
That one counts though!
Arsenal 0 - 1 Chelsea (Eden Hazard, 7 min)
Hazard is fed in through the middle by Pedro after Kante drops the ball to him. Eleny leaves his position for a half second and opens up the passing lane... it's his fault. He went to close the ball down instead of watching the space.
GOOOOOOOOOAAA - offside!
Chelsea score first... but it's disallowed! Azpilicueta picks out Pedro with a wonderfully measured chipped pass but the forward is a yard offside. No VAR needed for that one!
5 mins
Hazard wins a free-kick by trying to dribble between two players and being knocked down by Monreal. Iwobi tries to play out from the back but passes straight to Alonso, who finds Pedro, who plays in Bakayoko to shoot. The effort is wild but takes a deflection for a corner.
And now it's a goal kick.
Miss: Arsenal 0 - 0 Chelsea (Victor Moses, 4 min)
2 mins
Sure enough, Elneny is sitting as the defensive midfielder in a 4-1-2-3. Bellerin and Monreal are holding fire before nailing up the pitch early on, Hazard is the central striker.
KICK-OFF
Here we go! Chelsea get us started.
Teams on the pitch
It's nearly time!
This is quite interesting. Arsenal sharing VAR explanations.
Antonio Conte says
DEEP BREATH IN... sigh... looks down angrily... quiet voice:
"eeeeeh but I think at the same time we prepare the game and want to play a good game and to reach the final."
Looking directly into the eyes of the questioner:
"It's important to do a good performance, this is a big challenge for us and for Arsenal. There is a lot of balance between the two teams and we'll see what happens after the game."
Mkhitaryan making friends
Wenger and Wilshere
Arsene Wengersays:
"First of all because we know each other very well but you never can predict what will happen. The first game was very open, the last was very blocked.
"No matter if you are favourite or not you want to take the opportunity."
Jack Wilshere, who sounds bored as soon as he starts talking:
"The game plan when we was away was a little bit different, we defended a little bit more but we'll have to defend well tonight. We need to defend and then look to take the game to them a little bit more. It would be nice to go back there (Wembley) and win the trophy, we know the fans want to win a trophy and we're going to try and do that."
Chelsea's slight tactical tweak
I wrote this last week explaining why Chelsea's relentless pursuit of a target man might change after the success of the Willian/Hazard partnership.
Eden Hazard and Willian may force Chelsea manager Antonio Conte into a tactical rethink
Chelsea starting lineup
Chelsea have gone with the same lineup (except with Pedro in for Batshuayi) that absolutely destroyed Brighton at the weekend. Arsenal beware! Hazard and Willian were outstanding.
Chelsea team: Caballero; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Bakayoko, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Hazard, Pedro.
Subs: Eduardo, Cahill, David Luiz, Zappacosta, Drinkwater, Barkley, Batshuayi. #ARSCHEpic.twitter.com/MpZXMyk8ed— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 24, 2018
Barkley could make his debut tonight!
Arsenal starting lineup
I was right! It is a 4-3-3. Come bask in my glory.
�� Here it is - our starting XI to face @ChelseaFC#AFCvCFCpic.twitter.com/44StWKv1Bk
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 24, 2018
Arsenal programme
Mkhitaryan can't play tonight because he's cup tied. Which is kind of a shame. If only there were a way to sneak him on, by pretending that he's... someone else. Make him wear an Aaron Ramsey mask.
Arsenal tweeting about their shiny new toy
Welcome to your new home, @HenrikhMkh ����#MKHITAR7ANpic.twitter.com/j4omEssPGH
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 24, 2018
Hello!
Good evening and welcome to our liveblog for this grand old London derby between North London and West London Blue.
Who will join Man City in the final at Wembley? Over 90 minutes, we will find out! And since all the recent Arsenal vs Chelsea games we've had have ended as draws, there's a chance that will become 120 minutes and then penalties. Or will it? It's cup football - anything can happen!
Alvaro Morata is available again after suspension but Antonio Conte says he's injured. Hmm. Either way, he'll likely miss out tonight (unless it's all a cunning ruse), Thibaut Courtois and Cesc Fabregas are both injured and will be absent for sure.
Arsenal won't have Mkhitaryan tonight and Giroud, Cazorla and Welbeck all have injury problems of their own. There is a forgotten man back in the first XI who might make a big difference for Arsene Wenger tonight...
Why Mohamed Elneny could be key to an Arsenal return to 4-3-3 against Chelsea
