Havertz gets Arsenal over the line to first final in six years as Chelsea fail to overturn first leg defeat

Rising to the occasion

Carabao Cup Semi-Final Second Leg

Arsenal (0) 1 Havertz 90+7

Chelsea (0) 0

Aggregate: 4-2

It was at time tortuous watching for Gunners fans. A precious single goal advantage is not nearly enough to make for calm watching over 90 minutes.

They had to watch their side parry and absorb the tension and work their socks off to keep the Blues at bay.

At times, in spite of the brilliant defending which restricted the Blues to only a handful of half chances, it seemed that a goal to force extra time must come.

It never did. Instead, as Chelsea threw the kitchen sink, there was one final injury time twist as a breakaway led to Declan Rice crossing to an unmarked Kai Havertz for the former Chelsea striker to round Robert Sanchez and plant a final decisive nail in the coffin.

Ecstasy for the home fans at the end if such a nervy night. Now they can look forward to a first Wembley final since the 2020 behind-closed-door triumph over Chelsea in the Fa Cup final.

The first half refused to reveal which way the night would go, with neither side creating much and with acute tension ensuring creativity was largely kept under wraps in the teeming rain.

There was a shot each from outside the area to force routine saves - Piero Hincapie for the Gunners, Enzo Fernandez for the Blues. Gabriel Martinelli had a couple of moments when he looked like he might escape a claustrophobic quagmire of a match but was thwarted by Malo Gusto when he threatened to open up enough space for a telling shot.

The Noni Madueke v Marc Cucurella duel was a source of fascination but neither player could claim to have got the upper hand. Chelsea pressed diligently and countered Arsenal corners by keeping three men up on half way to discourage their box being loaded. It was all very tactically numbing.

But it was bound to become even more tense as the second half wore on with Chelsea needing a goal to level the aggregate score and Arsenal looking to protect that slender advantage rather than hunt out a knockout blow.

Liam Rosenior had the subs to make things happen. On came Estevao, Cole Palmer and then Alejandro Garnacho - scorer of the two Chelsea goals in the first leg which pegged back a rampant Gunners at the Bridge.

Gabriel had a header that flew into Cucurella. Martinelli fell under a challenge from Trevoh Chalobah inside the box but nothing was given. But for Arsenal, it was all about small margins, tracking back and smothering the opposition for all they were worth.

Mikel Arteta's men may have eschewed the glam route, but they are not averse to the muck and nettles in order to get a job done. They can now look forward to meeting Man City or Newcastle in next month's showpiece.

Gunners: (4-3-3) Kepa - Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie - Eze, Zubimendi, Rice - Madueke (Trossard 70), Gyokeres (Havertz 70), Martinelli

Blues: (3-5-2) Sanchez - Fofana, Chalobah, Hato (Estevao 60) - Gusto (Acheampong 87), Caicedo, Andrey Santos (Garnacho 75), Fernandez, Cucurella - Delap (Palmer 60), Joao Pedro -