Arsenal claimed a crucial 3–2 away victory over Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
The North London side made a fast start in the all-London encounter, taking an early lead through Ben White, who capitalised on a defensive lapse following a corner kick that caught Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez off guard.
Arsenal extended their advantage shortly after halftime when Viktor Gyökeres finished calmly to make it 2–0, putting the Gunners firmly in control of the tie.
Chelsea responded with a spirited second-half comeback led by Alejandro Garnacho, who struck twice to bring the Blues back into contention. His first goal reduced the deficit before a dramatic late effort from a scrambled corner made it 2–2.
However, Arsenal regained the lead in between Garnacho’s goals through Martin Zubimendi, who produced a fine solo effort to restore the visitors’ advantage and ultimately secure the win.
The thrilling contest, played at high intensity, saw both teams cope with the absence of several key players due to injuries and suspensions. Despite Chelsea’s late pressure, Arsenal held on to take a valuable away lead into the second leg.
The return fixture is scheduled for early February at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal will look to finish the job and secure a place in the Carabao Cup final.
In the other semi-final first-leg tie, Manchester City recorded a 2–0 victory away at Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
Arsenal confirmed via their official website that attention now turns to domestic and European commitments. The Gunners return to Premier League action on Saturday, January 17, with an away clash against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, before travelling to Italy to face Inter Milan at the San Siro in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, January 20.
