Sports
Report, result and goals as Gunners take advantage in EFL Cup first leg
Arsenal took a narrow but valuable advantage from the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final after beating Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge in a chaotic clash between the two Premier League rivals.
The visitors made a fast start and were rewarded inside seven minutes. From Arsenal’s first corner of the match, Declan Rice delivered a high-quality ball into the six-yard area.
Chelsea’s marking was disorganised, Robert Sanchez hesitated off his line, and Ben White was left completely unchallenged to head into an empty net from close range.
A brief VAR check for offside against Viktor Gyokeres was passed, and Arsenal had an early lead.
Chelsea attempted to respond through wide areas, with Pedro Neto and Estevao looking to isolate Arsenal’s full-backs, but clear chances were limited.
Enzo Fernandez tested Kepa Arrizabalaga with a long-range effort that was comfortably saved, while Neto saw a shot blocked by William Saliba following a rare Chelsea transition.
Arsenal controlled much of the opening half through possession and positioning rather than volume of chances. Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi circulated the ball well in midfield, while Bukayo Saka remained a constant outlet on the right.
Goals galore in the second half
The second half began quietly, but the match turned dramatically in a seven-minute spell shortly after the restart. In the 49th minute, Arsenal doubled their lead. Ben White again advanced on the overlap and delivered a low cross that Sanchez appeared set to gather.
Instead, the goalkeeper spilled the ball under little pressure, allowing Gyökeres to react first and slide home from a few yards out. It was the striker’s first goal in a month and his first meaningful involvement of the match.
Chelsea responded with several substitutions, introducing Alejandro Garnacho, who made an immediate impact. Ten minutes after coming on, Garnacho pulled a goal back. Neto’s cross from the right evaded Fernandez at the near post and dropped to Garnacho at the back post. He took a touch and drove the ball through Kepa’s legs to make it 2-1.
The goal lifted the home side, and Arsenal briefly came under sustained pressure. Estevao and Garnacho carried the ball aggressively, while Chelsea’s full-backs pushed higher.
However, Arsenal restored their two-goal cushion in the 71st minute with their most cohesive attacking move of the night. Mikel Merino found Gyokeres inside the box, and the striker showed composure to lay the ball into the path of Zubimendi. The midfielder shifted inside two defenders and struck a firm left-footed finish beyond Sanchez from 12 yards.
At 3-1, Arsenal appeared well placed, but the tie remained open. Chelsea refused to retreat and struck again in the 83rd minute.
From a corner, the ball broke loose inside the area and fell to Garnacho, who adjusted quickly to half-volley a bouncing shot into the ground. The ball skipped up and over Kepa, reducing the deficit to one goal. A VAR check for contact on the goalkeeper ruled the goal legitimate.
The final minutes were tense. Arsenal made late substitutions to protect their lead, while Chelsea pushed bodies forward.
Gabriel Jesus briefly won a penalty after being caught in the area, but the decision was overturned for offside. Neto headed straight at Kepa from a late cross, and Jurrien Timber was booked deep into stoppage time for a foul as Arsenal looked to slow proceedings.
After five added minutes, Arsenal held on to secure a vital 3-2 win. They will take a narrow advantage back to the Emirates Stadium next week.
