Liam Rosenior's first home game in charge of Chelsea ended in narrow defeat, but the Blues will take huge encouragement from the scoreline given their injury crisis and the quality of the opposition. With key stars like Cole Palmer, Reece James, Moisés Caicedo, and others sidelined, Chelsea battled valiantly but were ultimately undone by individual mistakes and Arsenal's clinical edge.
The Goals That Shook Stamford Bridge
Arsenal struck early in the 7th minute through Ben White, who rose highest to head in Declan Rice's trademark corner – Arsenal's 24th set-piece goal of the season already. It was a nightmare start for new Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, who flapped at the delivery.
The Gunners doubled their lead just after halftime in the 49th minute when Viktor Gyökeres pounced on another Sánchez error, bundling the ball over the line after the keeper's poor positioning left him exposed. Gyökeres, under scrutiny for his form, finally got his first open-play goal in 11 matches to silence doubters.
Chelsea responded brilliantly when Rosenior introduced Garnacho off the bench. The former Manchester United winger halved the deficit in the 57th minute with a composed finish, injecting life into the home crowd.
But Arsenal restored their two-goal cushion in the 71st minute through Martín Zubimendi, who produced a moment of magic – a silky shimmy followed by a thunderous finish – to cap off a superb team move and leave Chelsea reeling.
Garnacho wasn't done, though. In the 83rd minute, he volleyed home his second after Kepa Arrizabalaga's clearance fell kindly, setting up a tense finale and ensuring the tie remains alive heading into the second leg on February 3.
Key Moments and Talking Points
- Sánchez Under Fire: The Chelsea keeper endured a night to forget, with his errors directly leading to two Arsenal goals. Rosenior backed him post-match, but questions will linger.
- Garnacho the Hero: The substitute's brace gave Chelsea hope and showcased his big-game mentality.
- Arsenal's Experience: Despite not putting the game to bed, Arteta's side showed composure and quality in transitions – traits that could see them end their trophy drought.
- Chelsea's Resilience: Depleted but defiant, the Blues created chances and never gave up, proving they can compete against the best even without their stars.
This result keeps the dream of Wembley alive for both sides, with the winner facing either Newcastle or Manchester City in the final. Chelsea must now overturn a one-goal deficit at the Emirates, but Rosenior will draw positives from their character and attacking intent.
Arsenal, meanwhile, take a slender lead but will rue not killing the tie off – a familiar story in recent semi-finals. The second leg promises fireworks in what could be the first of several trophy showdowns this season.
A classic London derby that had everything: drama, errors, brilliance, and late drama. The Carabao Cup semi-final is far from over – buckle up for round two!