Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Wed 4 February 2026 6:30, UK

Arsenal progressed to the final of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday as they beat Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.

Kai Havertz‘s winning goal saw Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 to set up a final against Man City or Newcastle United next month.

The Citizens lead 2-0 in the second semi-final, which will reach its conclusion at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-2 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, and maintained their lead throughout the contest.

Havertz has recently returned from injury, and scored his second goal in his last three games as he downed his former club.

Keith Hackett reacts to controversial moment

Arsenal fans will remember being awarded a bizarre penalty against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium earlier in the season.

Jake O’Brien had jumped to defend a corner, but inexplicably decided to keep his hands raised, subsequently making contact with the ball.

The referee initially missed the moment but VAR quickly stepped in to recommend a review for what was an obvious handball offence.

Arsenal fans may have expected something similar when replays showed that Wesley Fofana‘s forearm had made contact with the ball ahead of Piero Hincapie in the opening minutes of Tuesday’s game.

The defender had jumped with his arms extended over the Arsenal man’s shoulder, with referee Peter Bankes awarding a corner.

There was no intervention from VAR, and former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett felt that was the right decision.

“The VAR was correct in not intervening in this incident,” he exclusively told Football Insider. “The arm is in a position that I would judge as natural. No offence for me.”

Arsenal win tightly contested final

Arsenal will be glad that the handball incident and a decision involving Trevor Chalobah and Gabriel Martinelli later in the game did not have a bearing on the final result.

The Gunners have progressed to just their second cup final under the management of Mikel Arteta, and have a strong chance to finally bring silverware back to the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea will be disappointed, and rightly so – they put up a strong fight and, on another day, could have nicked a goal.

But it is Arsenal who will grace Wembley Stadium next month, with their opponent to be decided on Wednesday.