Fortune favours Arsenal as they defeat Chelsea in League Cup semi
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Updated 24/01/2018 at 22:32 GMT
Emirates Stadium, League Cup Semi Final Second Leg - Arsenal 2 (Rudiger o.g. 12' Xhaka 60') Chelsea 1 (Hazard 7') (Tie finishes 2-1 aggregate)
Nacho Monreal of Arsenal and Alex Iwobi celebrate the own goal of Antonio Rudiger of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final Second Leg at Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2018 in London, England
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 on the night, and on aggregate, to take their place in the Carabao Cup final where they'll face Manchester City.
Chelsea attacked swiftly from the outset and had the ball in the back of the net after five minutes when Pedro headed in a Cesar Azpilicueta through-ball—but it was correctly ruled out for offside.
Moments later, Arsenal conceded only their second goal of the competition this season, when Eden Hazard's deft left-footed shot beat David Ospina. The Belgian was put through on goal by a superb Pedro pass.
The equaliser came from an Arsenal corner routine, where Mesut Ozil’s dead ball was headed towards goal by Nacho Monreal. The Spaniard’s header deflected awkwardly off of both Marcos Alonso and Antonio Rudiger before beating Willy Caballero. The fortunate pinball-style header was awarded as an own goal for Rudiger.
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Nacho Monreal celebrates the own goal of Antonio Rudiger of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final Second Leg at Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2018 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
A Rudiger deflection also played a crucial role in the Gunners second goal. The German drastically changed the course of a Lacazette cut-back to Alex Iwobi on the edge of the box, inadvertently putting it into the path of Granit Xhaka on the edge of the six-yard box. The Swiss duly toe-poked home with a clever finish.
Arsenal dominated the second-half of an open and entertaining game, showing enough fortitude to book their tenth trip to Wembley in four years.
Arsene Wenger's side will now face Manchester City in their eighth League Cup final on February 25th.
TALKING POINT
Is this Arsenal’s best route to European qualification? The League Cup winner is granted a place in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. The Gunners can still place in the Premier League top four—and earn a Champions League spot by winning this year’s Europa League—but will this final be their best path to continental action next season?
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Nacho Monreal (FC Arsenal vs. FC Chelsea)
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eden Hazard (Chelsea): The scorer of the opening goal was at his best, orchestrating most of Chelsea’s attacking movements and serving as the visitors’ only creative outlet.
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Eden Hazard of Chelsea scores his sides first goal during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final Second Leg at Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2018 in London, England
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Ospina 6, Bellerin 7, Mustafi 7, Koscielny 7, Monreal 7, Elneny 7, Xhaka 6, Wilshere 8, Ozil 8, Iwobi 7, Lacazette 6. Subs: Kolasinac 6, Ramsey 6.
Chelsea: Caballero 6, Azpilicueta 6, Christensen 6, Rudiger 6, Moses 6, Bakayoko 7, Kante 7, Alonso 7, Willian 6, Hazard 8, Pedro 6. Subs: Zappacosta 6, Barkley 5, Batshuayi 5
KEY MOMENTS
7 - GOAL! Pedro cuts a hole in the Arsenal defence to find Hazard with a lovely through-ball through the middle — and the Belgian finishes with his left-foot!
12 - GOAL! Ozil's corner is headed towards goal by Monreal. It deflects off of Alonso and Rudiger before hitting the net!
45+3’ CHANCE! Arsenal come forward in numbers with Wilshere and Xhaka pushing into the final third. Wilshere plays Ozil in for a one-on-one shot, but it's deflected wide!
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Mesut Özil
Image credit: Getty Images
60 - GOAL! Iwobi plays a square ball across field to Xhaka, who finds Lacazette in the box. The Frenchman finds Xhaka's run on the edge of the six yard box and the Swiss toe pokes it into the net!
76 - CHANCE! After some excellent build-up work, Ozil plays a wonderful square ball across the edge of the area to Iwobi, who is clear on goal! But his shot is fired straight at Caballero!
KEY STATS
Eden Hazard has scored three times in his last two Chelsea games, which is as many as in his previous 14 outings.
Arsenal will now feature in their eighth League Cup final. Only Manchester United (nine) and Liverpool (12) have played in more.
The League Cup is the only trophy missing in Wenger's domestic trophy cabinet.
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