Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal: Alejandro Garnacho double keeps Blue...

Chelsea v Arsenal - Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg

Live Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal: Alejandro Garnacho double keeps Blues in Carabao Cup semi-final

Full-time: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
83 mins: GOAL - Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
71 mins: GOAL - Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal
57 mins: GOAL - Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal

Phil Haigh Published January 14, 2026 6:30pm Updated January 14, 2026 10:13pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments

A thrilling Carabao Cup semi-final first leg finished 3-2 to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea beaten but alive in the tie.

The Gunners were ahead early on as Ben White nodded in from a corner after just seven minutes, with Robert Sanchez flapping at the cross.

It got worse for the Blues keeper as he fumbled a low cross to allow Viktor Gyokeres to poke home a second just after the break.

Things looked pretty bleak for Liam Rosenior’s men at that point but they responded impressively after a spell of Arsenal pressure.

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho got Chelsea back into it with a smart finish just before the hour mark, but Martin Zubimendi’s strike re-established Arsenal’s two-goal lead.

Garnacho popped up at the back post late on, though, netting from a corner as Kepa Arrizabalaga floundered on the deck.

The second leg is played at the Emirates next month and while clearly Arsenal have the advantage, Garnacho has kept Chelsea hopes alive.

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The Gunners thought they had a penalty late on as Gabriel Jesus was taken down by Jorrel Hato, but the Brazilian was eventually given offside.

There were eight bookings in the match, which was largely good-spirited, but got spicy towards the end and there were handbags after the final whistle.

Rosenior, who was taking charge of his first game at Stamford Bridge, was on the field dragging captain Enzo Fernandez away from the trouble.

White sounded frustrated that Chelsea got back into the game after the break, telling Sky Sports: ‘We didn’t play very well in the second half and let them give us more pressure. Not up to our standards really, a disappointing second half.’

Hostilities will resume on Tuesday February 3 in north London.

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Sort: Newest first Oldest first January 14, 2026 10:02 pm That’s it! Phil Haigh

Thanks for following our live coverage of a brilliant clash which finished Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal in this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:56 pm Full-time: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

That’s it. Arsenal take it 3-2 in a fantastic contest.

Deserved victory but Chelsea battled well and Garnacho capitalised well for two second half goals.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:55 pm 90+6 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal – Yellow card Phil Haigh

Jurrien Timber booked for a foul on Andrey Santos

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:54 pm 90+5 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

The home fans seething with Chelsea knocking it about at the back deep into injury time. It does make its way up to Garnacho and then Estevao, a cross comes in but Neto can only manage a tame header.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:53 pm 90+4 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

Arsenal win a penalty as Jesus is hacked down by Hato. No, he was offside, it just took the officials forever to give. Just put your flag up!

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:51 pm 90+2 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

Chelsea slowly playing the ball out from the back in injury time, much to their fans’ disgust.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:50 pm 90+1 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

White eventually slings the ball into the box after a short free-kick but it’s easy for Sanchez. Chelsea look to break, Estevao ambitiously asks for a penalty after a coming together with Gabriel. Nope.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:49 pm 90 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal – Yellow card Phil Haigh

Pedro Neto gets booked for shouting something at the ref. Andrey Santos had given away a clear free-kick for a foul on Saka. Neto was fuming for some reason.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:48 pm 89 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

Kai Havertz getting loudly booed by the Chelsea fans

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Kepa under pressure again, but he does win a free-kick this time as he flaps at a cross.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:43 pm 83 mins: GOAL – Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

It’s Garnacho again!

Neto’s corner eventually falls to Garnacho at the back post and he hits a good enough shot with Kepa on the deck, it goes in.

The Arsenal keeper was hoping for a foul but it is not given. He jumped with a number of players and ended on the floor, allowing Garnacho to score.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:42 pm 83 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

As often when there have been so many substitutes late on, the game becomes a little disjointed. Estevao remains a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side, though, winning a corner on the right.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:40 pm 81 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal – Substitutes Phil Haigh

Chelsea take off Joao Pedro and Cucurella for Tosin and Mheuka

Arsenal also making changes as Rice and Gyokeres come off for Havertz and Jesus.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:39 pm 79 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

Alan Smith on Sky Sports commentary says this has been one of Estevao’s best games in a Chelsea shirt. He has certainly been their most threatening player.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:37 pm 78 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal – Yellow card Phil Haigh

Poor challenge from Merino on Joao Pedro. Clearly a booking.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:36 pm 76 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

What a chance for Merino and a superb save from Sanchez.

A big scrap for the ball in the Chelsea box sees it pop up to an unmarked Merino and he fires in a good shot that is brilliantly kept out.

The subsequent corner is headed into the ground by Gabriel and it bounces over. Another good chance!

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:35 pm 76 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal – Yellow card Phil Haigh

Arrizabalaga gets booked for time wasting.

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Hato comes on for Fofana as Rosenior mixes up his defence

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Obviously that is a hammer blow to Chelsea, who had been lively in their pursuit for an equaliser.

They have not given up though, with Estevao still bright and threatening.

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source January 14, 2026 9:30 pm 71 mins: GOAL – Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil Haigh

Martin Zubimendi scored Arsenal’s third!

Great goal from the midfielder, who showed very neat feet in the Chelsea box, making space for himself before firing past Sanchez. Gyoekres laid it off for Zubimendi nicely.

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