Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal: Viktor Gyokeres ends aim drought as Gunners edge first leg of Carabao Cup semi-final

Arsenal will take a slim benefit into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final after a frantic 3-2 first-leg win at Chelsea.

Objectives from Ben White, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi noticed the Gunners take victory at Stamford Bridge, however Alejandro Garnacho struck on two events after coming off the bench.

However Arsenal can have perception they’re on monitor to succeed in Wembley, and finish Mikel Arteta’s file of shedding their final 4 two-legged semi-final ties on the spin.

Liam Rosenior’s first house recreation in command of Chelsea led to defeat, however he can have hope of a reversal within the second leg on the Emirates Stadium, which takes place in three weeks on Tuesday February 3.

Gyokeres strikes as Gunners take lead in tie

Rosenior was greeted by heat applause earlier than kick-off, however optimism of a very good begin vanished after seven minutes as White headed the opener from a trademark Declan Rice supply from a nook.

Considerably contentiously, there was a quick VAR examine for offside, with Gyokeres doubtlessly interefering on the road because the ball sailed previous him. However whereas it took a number of minutes to disallow Antoine Semenyo’s aim for Man Metropolis in an analogous incident within the different semi-final, this one was checked and cleared inside seconds.

Arsenal then took agency management of the tie on 49 minutes as Gyokeres bundled in from shut vary after Robert Sanchez failed to assemble White’s cross and it spilled into the striker’s path for simply his second aim because the begin of November.

After the sport he acknowledged the criticism in current weeks for not having the fitting instincts within the field for a striker. “That’s what I need to do,” he informed Sky Sports activities. “I can do it more often.”

Rosenior responded with speedy modifications, and one among his substitutes, Garnacho, fired Chelsea again into the sport after Pedro Neto’s cross landed at his toes on the far put up simply earlier than the hour.

Zubimendi restored Arsenal’s two-goal benefit on 71 minutes as he slammed in after combining effectively with Gyokeres, however Garnacho responded once more to offer Chelsea hope heading into the second leg.

Watch all 5 targets from Stamford Bridge thriller

‘Arsenal might be kicking themselves’

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Redknapp:

“The late goal has put a nice complexion on it from a Chelsea point of view and for Liam Rosenior.

“Arsenal might be kicking themselves. It might be useless and buried. However truthful play to Chelsea they hung in there.”

‘Distinctive evening for Gyokeres’

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta:

“Viktor has been exceptional in many departments. Of course, his best quality is putting the ball in the back of the net, but he was in those positions many times today. When the ball arrived in the right areas, he did what he had to do.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp:

“This was a very good evening for him. An distinctive evening. Plenty of the time, the crosses he would’ve been getting predominantly would’ve been from a right-footed proper wing-back and a left-footed left wing-back.

“When he plays for Arsenal, the major problem is Bukayo Saka plays on the right and he’s left-footed. So, when Bukayo gets into that position, instead of firing it across the face of goal, he wants to chop back.

“That is the place the frustration comes from.”

Rosenior happy regardless of defeat as he insists Chelsea are nonetheless within the tie

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior:

“I asked for energy, pressing, running back and helping the team, and I’m very happy with that side of it. I’m not happy with the result, and I’m not happy with the way we conceded the goals.

“However the gamers did not surrender and we’re nonetheless within the tie.

“We have to be stronger in moments and we’ll work on it. Conceding two goals from restarts isn’t acceptable, even though we scored one ourselves, and that’s an area we need to clean up.

“I’ve solely been with the workforce for six days, however we wish to win video games now, so we now have to be taught rapidly, however we’re nonetheless on this tie. It is solely half-time.

“It’s going to be very difficult. We’ve got four games before then, but I’m looking forward to that return game because it will tell me even more about my squad. If we show the same fight, intensity and quality, and switch on in key moments, we still have a chance to go through.”

Arteta: Job not but carried out

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta:

“Coming here against a team with the quality they have in every department and doing what we did throughout the game is very impressive. We showed dominance, scored three goals and had two big chances to score a fourth. They scored at a moment that changed the game a bit, but overall I’m very happy. It could have been even better.

“Typically you even have to offer credit score to the opponent. They’ve gamers who can unlock duels and run at you, and that is what they’re able to doing.

“They opened up the game. The positions and heights they used made them more dangerous when we lost the ball or when they won second balls and duels. At the same time, they were also much more exposed.

“We’re glad tonight, and now it is time to begin making ready for the following recreation.”