Following their penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals, Arsenal secured a narrow 3-2 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge on January 14, 2026. The Gunners capitalized on set-pieces and goalkeeper errors to take a lead into the second leg, while Chelsea's late fightback kept the tie alive. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho's brace offered hope for the hosts under new manager Liam Rosenior.
The match began with Arsenal asserting dominance through their renowned set-piece prowess. Just seven minutes in, Declan Rice swung in a corner that Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez failed to claim, allowing Ben White to head home unchallenged for a 1-0 lead. Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, fielded a strong lineup including William Saliba, Gabriel, and Viktor Gyokeres up front, rotating minimally despite a packed schedule.
Chelsea, in Liam Rosenior's first home game as head coach following Enzo Maresca's departure, struggled early but showed resilience. The Blues rotated heavily in their prior FA Cup win over Charlton, but went with key players like Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto here. Arsenal nearly doubled their advantage before halftime, with Saliba's curling shot dipping onto the crossbar.
The second half exploded into action. In the 49th minute, White's low cross slipped through Sanchez's hands, enabling Gyokeres to poke in his first goal in a month for 2-0. Chelsea responded swiftly; substitute Garnacho, introduced around the hour mark, latched onto Neto's cross to fire through Kepa Arrizabalaga's legs, halving the deficit at 2-1.
Arsenal restored their two-goal cushion in the 71st minute through Martin Zubimendi, who beat two defenders after a layoff from Gyokeres to smash past Sanchez. Arteta praised the midfielder post-match: “He’s a player who can do whatever he wants... What he’s done today is phenomenal.”
Garnacho struck again in the 83rd minute, volleying a loose ball from a corner over a prone Arrizabalaga to make it 3-2. A late penalty appeal for Gabriel Jesus was overturned for offside, and tensions boiled over with post-whistle scuffles involving Fernandez. Ben White admitted frustration with Arsenal's second-half dip: “We didn’t play very well... Not up to our standards really.”
Rosenior lauded his side's spirit: “That determination and intensity... I want that in a team that never gives up.” The second leg is set for February 3 at the Emirates, where Arsenal boast an imperious home record. This win ended Arsenal's nine-match semi-final drought in the competition.
