Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup final after edging Chelsea 1–0 at the Emirates Stadium, with Kai Havertz delivering the decisive moment late in the night.
Holding a slim 3–2 advantage from the first leg, the Gunners approached the return fixture with patience and discipline. Chelsea pushed hard for the goal they needed to force extra time, dominating possession and peppering Arsenal’s defence with efforts, but clear chances proved hard to come by.
The breakthrough finally arrived deep into stoppage time. Introduced from the bench, Havertz timed his run perfectly to meet a teasing cross from Declan Rice, calmly rounded goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and rolled the ball into an empty net to seal the tie.
Arsenal were largely conservative throughout the contest, prioritising control and defensive solidity over attacking risk. That approach paid off, as they limited Chelsea to hopeful attempts and leaned on a backline that continues to impress.
The win sends Arsenal into their first cup final since 2020 and extends a remarkable defensive record, with the clean sheet marking their 20th of the season across all competitions.
