Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal: The Gunners will have the advantage in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, but a one-goal lead does not truly reflect their dominance
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior after Chelsea’s loss to Arsenal (Image: )
It was a baptism of fire of sorts for Liam Rosenior. And after his first game as manager at Stamford Bridge, the scale of the task ahead of Chelsea’s new manager became clear.
Arsenal had a huge advantage for most of the game and even threatened to slip away in the semi-final, with Victor Goqueres getting involved. Gokeres scored and provided an assist in one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt as Mikel Arteta finally ended his semi-final spell.
But Rosenior has a huge debt of gratitude to two-goal substitute Alejandro Garnacho for keeping Chelsea level and giving them at least a chance to compete in next month’s return leg.
It was another shining advertisement for the competition, with Newcastle and Manchester City providing a cracker in the semi-final 24 hours earlier.
And this was a great London derby that thrilled everyone and the crowd with a sensational combination of goals from Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez, thrills and howls from a fearsome keeper.
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And even if the final scoreline did not reflect Arsenal’s superiority and the fact that they could and should have equalized, Arsenal are firmly in the hunt for four trophies.
However, it was Arteta’s first win in nine semi-final games prior to the showdown at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal lost six, drew two and were eliminated in three competitions.
And the fact that Arteta fought almost as hard as he could and won the game shows that Arsenal really want to win this trophy. Chelsea did not have that luxury, with Moises Caicedo suspended and Cole Palmer and Reece James injured, leaving them short-handed.
Arsenal took the lead in the seventh minute. Julian Timber chased the ball and won a corner from Chelsea defender Trevor Chalobah, but there is always danger when Arsenal have a set-piece.
Ben White scores the opening goal after a Roberto Sanchez slip-up (Image: Arsenal FC, Getty Images)
Declan Rice swung the ball through, but Chelsea keeper Sanchez missed it all, leaving him virtually rooted to the spot with an absolute gift for Ben White to head home from close range.
Incredibly, it was Arsenal’s 24th goal from a set-piece in all competitions this season, with the away end chanting “Another set-piece, ole, ole!”
It was a decisive blow for Chelsea, who had started the game aggressively, and Rosenior could be seen motivating his players from the touchline.
Chelsea were pressing and competing and Rosenior seemed to be kicking every ball with his players. His pre-match introduction was subdued, but Chelsea fans were buzzing.
Estevao Willian looks like a very promising player, but Arsenal are clearly the better and more skilled team.
Alejandro Garnacho scored twice to keep Chelsea tied (Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Arsenal then got their second goal from an unlikely figure in Gokeres. Ukayo Saka found White on the overlap, his low cross was tipped over by Sanchez, and Joe Keles forced home from inside the six-yard box.
Chelsea were back in the game in the 57th minute. Pedro Neto brilliantly broke down the right flank and crossed to substitute Garnacho, who ran into goal with Arsenal’s defense at full strength.
Arsenal’s third was pure class. Substitute Mikel Merino fed Gokeres and his deft lay-off set up Martin Zvimendi, who shuffled home with a fine shuffle.
At that point, Merino and Gabriel missed their chance to end the match. Garnacho then scored his second goal to give Chelsea hope when Arsenal failed to clear a corner.
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