The wait is over. After nearly six years and four failed semi-finals, Arsenal's 4-2 aggregate win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final has taken them back to a major final.
It will be the club's first final under Mikel Arteta since the 2020 FA Cup and only his second overall at the helm. The victory — sealed by Kai Havertz's injury-time finish that sent the Emirates into euphoria — carried weight beyond the scoreboard. In a match where both sides managed only two shots on target, Arsenal's defensive organisation and composure stood out, and the relief among players and fans was obvious.
Arsenal will contest a ninth EFL Cup final on Sunday 22 March against either Manchester City or Newcastle. If it is City, it will recreate the 2018 final, a defeat for Arsenal when Arteta was still part of Pep Guardiola's coaching staff. Beyond avenging that loss and chasing their first League Cup in 33 years, the final is an opportunity to shift perceptions about a team long labelled as 'nearly men.'
Arteta captured the mood afterwards, pointing to the atmosphere at the Emirates and the value of moments like this. He described the occasion as a reward for hard work and togetherness, and sa
