Arsenal Edge Closer to Carabao Cup Final with Narrow Victory Over Chelsea
London, 15 January 2026
Arsenal secured a crucial 3-2 first-leg victory at Stamford Bridge, breaking their troubling semi-final curse. Viktor Gyökeres finally ended his goal drought since November, scoring Arsenal’s second in what could prove pivotal for the Swedish striker’s confidence. The £64 million summer signing also provided the assist for Martin Zubimendi’s decisive third goal. Despite Alejandro Garnacho’s impressive brace off the bench for Chelsea, Arsenal maintained their advantage heading into the second leg at Emirates Stadium on 3 February. This victory represents Arsenal’s first semi-final leg win in recent attempts.
Early Dominance Sets the Tone
Arsenal’s commanding start at Stamford Bridge on 13 January 2026 showcased the tactical precision that has defined their cup run [1][2]. Ben White opened the scoring after just seven minutes, heading home from a Declan Rice corner following a costly misjudgement by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez [3][4]. The goal marked Arsenal’s 24th from set-pieces this season and their 18th specifically from corners, highlighting the Gunners’ devastating efficiency in dead-ball situations [2]. Despite a VAR check for potential offside involving Gyökeres during the build-up, the goal stood, giving Arsenal the perfect foundation for their semi-final assault [2].
Gyökeres Breaks Through at Crucial Moment
The second half brought the breakthrough Arsenal supporters had been waiting for, as Viktor Gyökeres finally ended his barren spell that had stretched back to November [1][2]. The Swedish striker, who had previously netted 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting before his £64 million summer move, capitalised on excellent work from Ben White to slot home Arsenal’s second goal at the 49-minute mark [1][2]. ‘That’s what I need to do and I can do it more often. We won today and we keep going,’ Gyökeres reflected after the match, his relief evident after breaking his goal drought [1][2]. Manager Mikel Arteta praised his striker’s overall contribution, noting: ‘Viktor has been exceptional in many departments. Of course, his best quality is putting the ball in the back of the net, but he was in those positions many times today’ [2].
Chelsea’s Spirited Fightback
Chelsea’s response came through substitute Alejandro Garnacho, who demonstrated exactly why new manager Liam Rosenior turned to him from the bench [1][2][4]. Garnacho’s first goal at the 57-minute mark injected fresh belief into the home supporters and set up a thrilling finale to the encounter [3][4]. However, Arsenal quickly restored their two-goal cushion when Martin Zubimendi finished expertly after a clever flick from Gyökeres at the 71-minute mark, showcasing the Swedish striker’s improved all-round play [1][2][4]. Garnacho’s second strike with seven minutes remaining ensured Chelsea remained within touching distance heading into the return leg, though Arsenal’s away goal advantage proved decisive [3][4].
Road to Wembley Opens Up
The victory represents a significant psychological breakthrough for Arsenal, who had lost their previous four semi-finals without winning a single leg prior to this encounter [1]. Arteta acknowledged the magnitude of overcoming such mental barriers, stating: ‘Coming here against a team with the quality they have in every department and doing what we did throughout the game is very impressive’ [2]. The Gunners now face a crucial period before the second leg on 3 February 2026, with fixtures against Nottingham Forest on 18 January and Inter Milan on 20 January testing their squad depth [5]. Should Arsenal complete the job at Emirates Stadium, they would progress to the EFL Cup final scheduled for 22 March 2026, potentially ending their 32-year drought in the competition [1][3]. Chelsea manager Rosenior, despite having only six days with his new team, remained optimistic: ‘We’re still in this tie. It’s only half-time’ [2].