Arsenal Take 3-2 Carabao Cup Semifinal Lead, Eyeing Six-Year Trophy Drought End

Arsenal grabbed a 3-2 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. It’s a major step towards breaking their stubborn semifinal jinx and getting closer to a major trophy, the club’s first in almost six years. The win puts the Gunners in a good spot before the second leg.

Early Advantage & Chelsea’s Keeper Woes

Arsenal started sharp, with Ben White scoring a header just seven minutes in. It came from a corner, and Chelsea keeper Robert Sánchez fumbled it, giving Arsenal the early lead. This was the first bad mistake from Sánchez.

The Gunners stretched their lead after halftime. Viktor Gyökeres put one in from close range in the 51st minute. And that goal? Another Sánchez error. He let White’s cross slip right under him. But Chelsea didn’t fold.

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho pulled one back for Chelsea, finishing inside Kepa Arrizabalaga’s near post on 57 minutes. That gave the home side some hope. Then Martín Zubimendi scored the goal of the night, a flowing move with a clever pass from Gyökeres, a feigned shot, then a left-footed finish. Manager Mikel Arteta reacted with joy and disbelief. Garnacho scored a second later, making it 3-2 and keeping Chelsea in the tie. Arsenal held on, taking a one-goal lead into the second leg, ESPN reported.

Arteta’s Mission: Shattering the Semifinal Curse

This win means a lot for Arsenal. They’ve struggled in semifinals under Arteta. Across four ties, eight matches, Arteta’s Arsenal won none, lost six, and scored only twice. Last season, Newcastle United beat them 4-0 on aggregate in this very competition.

This dismal record left many questioning the team’s ability to win silverware. It felt like an “insurmountable hurdle.” The Carabao Cup offers a chance to change that. Manager Mikel Arteta sees it that way, stating it’s his “mission” to knock Chelsea out and deliver Arsenal’s first major trophy in almost six years. He added, per ESPN, that he’s “expecting a ‘big fight’ in Arsenal’s second leg vs. Chelsea.”

Arsenal haven’t lost to Chelsea anywhere since 2021, a run of nine games. That history offered some confidence. But this match was still a tough one, even with that advantage. Arteta wants to translate the squad’s perceived superiority into trophies. BBC Sport noted this performance was a significant psychological boost.

Chelsea’s Rebuild and Rosenior’s Responsibility

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior took the blame for Robert Sánchez’s two mistakes. He didn’t point fingers at his goalkeeper. Rosenior plans talks with players like Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi about their futures at Stamford Bridge. This suggests squad changes might be coming. Rosenior also dealt with several injured and unavailable players, including Cole Palmer and Reece James. He said the game came “too early” for Palmer, explaining the need to avoid a longer six-week absence. Rosenior’s been in charge for only six days and this was his first home game. He wants to put his “stamp on the team.”

The Road to the Final

Arsenal holds a one-goal lead. They’re strong favorites to reach the Carabao Cup final. The return fixture is at Arsenal’s home ground in February. That match will decide if the Gunners can finally break their semifinal curse. It could mean their first major trophy under Arteta. This victory is a crucial psychological breakthrough for a team that has stumbled before. It offers real hope they can turn squad quality into silverware.