CHELSEA 2-3 ARSENAL: Alejandro Garnacho’s two goals were not enough for the home side as Viktor Gyokeres broke his duck to give the Gunners the advantage going into the second leg
Arsenal took a one-goal advantage into the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final after a rousing second half at Stamford Bridge.
The away side took the lead after just seven minutes as Robert Sanchez flapped at a corner, allowing Ben White to head into an empty net. Viktor Gyokeres made it 2-0 when Sanchez let a cross slip through his gloves to present the easiest of chances a yard out.
Alejandro Garnacho halved the deficit by blasting it at the back post, but Chelsea’s hopes didn’t last long, with Martin Zubimendi wriggling through the box before smashing a finish into the corner.
Sanchez kept out Mikel Merino’s powerful volley with a superb flying save and Garnacho kept things interesting by bouncing a volley into the floor and then the net after Kepa Arrizabalaga flapped at a corner. Chelsea finished strongly, but could not find an equaliser.
Here are the talking points from an entertaining encounter.
1. Sanchez a liability
One Arsenal corner, one Arsenal goal. We all know the Gunners are the masters of the set piece, but this was far far far too easy – and the vast majority of the blame lies with the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Sanchez has managed to play down his previous reputation as an erratic keeper who has a shocking error in him of late. And there was nothing dramatic about his failure here, just a straightforward mistake that White took advantage of, with Joao Pedro also misjudging the flight of the ball.
Arsenal’s second corner came in the 16th minute and again showed the Spaniard’s skittish nature as he dropped the inswinging ball under no real pressure and he dropped a second clanger by spilling a simple cross for Gyokeres to make it 2-0.
2. Injuries bite for Rosenior
Coming into the tie, Chelsea were already the underdogs. Once the team sheets were released, their chances reduced even further, with Cole Palmer, Reece James, Moises Caicedo, Malo Gusto, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap all absent.
“We’ve gone through the wars the last couple of days,” Rosenior told Sky Sports before kick-off. “But at the same time, I still think we are good enough to be competitive and try to win this game.” Palmer, James and Caicedo are arguably Chelsea’s three best players and, although Rosenior was right to highlight his side’s depth, their presence in the stands, rather than on the pitch, was clearly a hindrance for Chelsea.
3. Gyokeres breaks his duck
Gyokeres has looked like a striker bereft of confidence in recent weeks. The man who scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting Lisbon has been transformed into something very different – and not the player Arsenal though they were getting for £64million.
There’s a well-used cliché in football about just needing a goal to go in off your backside and Gyokeres was very much at that level. This one didn’t come in that fashion, but it could hardly have been easier, clocking in at 0.98xG. It was his first goal from open play in 16 games.
4. Garnacho makes his mark
Garnacho left Manchester United for £40m in the summer after falling out with Ruben Amorim. He hoped the grass was greener in west London and, after a slow start, he is beginning to make his presence felt on the left wing.
The Argentina winger found himself in the right place at the right time as the game opened up and he buried his two chances to keep his side in with a sniff in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
5. Quadruple on?
Arsenal are top of the Premier League. Arsenal are top of the Champions League. Arsenal are still in the FA Cup. Arsenal are looking good to reach the final of the Carabao Cup after the first semi-final. So could they win the lot?
It is very unlikely, obviously, but they have been extremely consistent this season and the strength and depth Arteta can call upon means they don’t appear set to collapse as the campaign rolls on. Arsenal’s bench options at Stamford Bridge, especially when compared to their opponents, underlined their credentials.
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