The only three titles Arteta has been able to celebrate as Arsenal manager have had Wembley as the stage: the 2019/20 FA Cup and the 2020 and 2023 Community Shields. On 16 March, he will have a new opportunity in the Carabao Cup final—the first since 2018—after making the result achieved at Stamford Bridge count to confirm the 1-0 (4-2 aggregate) passage against Chelsea thanks to a Havertz goal in added time.

With Kepa established between the posts in the Cup and Madueke repeating on the right wing due to Saka's discomfort, the plan executed by Arsenal gave coherence to Martinelli's presence on the left wing. More surprising, however, was the presence of Eze as an attacking midfielder ahead of an Odegaard who ended up dropping out of the squad. At Chelsea, beyond names, it was notable that, needing to come back, Rosenior experimented with a back three.

From the moment the ball was put into play, Arsenal was clear that the match could not get out of control as it did during the final stretch at Stamford Bridge... and it did not shy away from showing itself to be much more passive than usual, handing possession to a Chelsea side with few ideas.

As expected, the first major chance of the match came from a corner taken by Madueke that ended with Hincapie appealing for a handball by Fofana. Peter Banks did not buy it and, on the restart, Robert Sanchez had to fly to deny the goal to the Ecuadorian defender.

Most of the first half was played on Arsenal's side of the pitch, which threatened again on the counter through Martinelli. Malo Gusto was providential, recovering to deny the goal to the Brazilian. Chelsea, meanwhile, the only thing it could muster before the break was a long-range shot by Enzo that allowed Kepa to show off with a stylish 'butterfly' save.

Despite the harmless first half by Chelsea, Rosenior did not make corrections at halftime... although he quickly sent Palmer and Estevao to warm up. In fact, he did not even wait for the hour mark to bring them on, dismantling the initial plan by breaking the back three and withdrawing Hato and a Delap who had acted as a false right winger.

The 'blue' team needed it, as it was still not troubling Kepa... beyond a penalty that Joao Pedro persistently claimed. Arsenal, however, closed ranks, showing seriousness and barely conceding any shots from outside the area by Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez.

Arteta, in fact, sought even more control when he called upon Trossard and Havertz. The complete opposite of a Liam Rosenior, who called upon Garnacho given the evident lack of attacking threat his Chelsea was suffering, incapable of harming a flawless Arsenal.

With more hope than reasoning, Chelsea tried to 'die' in the opponent's area in search of the goal that would level the tie. But, already deep into added time, Declan Rice found strength from somewhere and led a counterattack finished by Kai Havertz to seal the qualification and, in passing, send a little 'invoice' to his former club.

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