Kai Havertz sends Arsenal into League Cup final with victory over Chelsea

Kai Havertz played the decisive role as Arsenal booked their place in the League Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the second leg of their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.

The substitute’s late strike sealed a 4-2 aggregate triumph for Mikel Arteta’s side, sending the Gunners to Wembley for their first League Cup final in eight years. Arsenal will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United on 22 March, with City holding a 2-0 advantage ahead of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal had taken control of the tie with a strong display in the first leg and, despite not being at their fluent best on the night, showed resilience and discipline to complete the job. Havertz, introduced from the bench, rounded goalkeeper Robert Sánchez in stoppage time to score into an empty net after Chelsea were caught on the counter-attack.

The victory marked a cathartic moment for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals across major competitions, including the Champions League and Europa League. It also offers Arsenal a chance to end a long wait for the League Cup, which they last won in 1993, and to secure their first trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2020.

Speaking after the match, Arteta praised his players’ composure and understanding of the occasion.

“We knew it was going to be a real battle,” he said. “The resilience and clarity to understand what kind of game we had to play was excellent.

“The atmosphere inside the stadium made a huge difference. We’ve been waiting a few years to get back into this position, and now we’re going to enjoy it.”

The result capped another impressive chapter in what is shaping up to be a memorable campaign for Arsenal. They sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League and reached the Champions League last 16 by winning all eight of their group matches.

Arteta has recently defended his side against criticism regarding their reliance on set-pieces, insisting Arsenal remain one of the most entertaining teams in Europe. While Tuesday’s scrappy contest did little to silence critics, progression to Wembley was all that mattered.

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior, who had enjoyed an encouraging start to his tenure with six wins from seven matches prior to the tie, admitted frustration at his side’s failure to capitalise.

“Over both legs, Arsenal knew they were in a game,” Rosenior said. “We controlled the areas we wanted to in the second half, but we didn’t find that decisive moment.

“It’s painful to lose, but we’re seeing improvements from the first leg to the second, and we need to keep building.”

Arsenal were without captain Martin Ødegaard due to a muscle injury, while Bukayo Saka was ruled out after suffering a problem during the warm-up ahead of their weekend fixture. Despite those absences, the hosts ground out the result.

Chelsea’s switch to a back three frustrated Arsenal during a scrappy opening half, though Piero Hincapié forced Sánchez into action with a curling effort from the edge of the area.

The visitors registered their first shot on target late in the half when Enzo Fernández tested Kepa Arrizabalaga from distance. After the break, Chelsea pushed forward, introducing Cole Palmer and Estêvão Willian in search of a breakthrough, but their threat faded as the match wore on.

Havertz’s late strike ultimately delivered the knockout blow, sending Arsenal through to a long-awaited final and keeping alive their hopes of silverware this season.