Fortune favours Arsenal over Chelsea in League Cup semi
Arsenal profited from two fortuitous goals to beat Chelsea 2-1 yesterday and seal a League Cup final meeting with Manchester City, providing a glimmer of joy in a gloomy domestic campaign.
Both Arsenal goals received a helping hand from Chelsea defender Antonio Ruediger as the semifinal meeting of London rivals came to life after a sterile, scoreless first leg two weeks ago.
Chelsea raced into a seventhminute lead through Eden Hazard but Arsenal quickly fought back. Nacho Monreal’s free header from a corner ricocheted off the heads of Chelsea duo Marcos Alonso and Ruediger before flying into the net in the 12th minute.
Arsenal took the lead on the hour when Alexandre Lacazette’s cross was inadvertently diverted by Ruediger into the path of Granit Xhaka, who poked the ball past goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
A recovery rarely looked on the cards from a disjointed Chelsea side in a derby that exposed the visitors’ shortages in the squad.
Chelsea’s attacking threat was sapped by the loss of Willian in the first half with a hamstring problem, and manager Antonio Conte was forced to bring on Ross Barkley for his debut.
The Everton recruit was lacking sharpness in his first match since being injured in May. But Conte was forced to deploy the midfielder as a ‘‘false nine’' at times. Little wonder the goal threat was lacking from last season’spremier League winner.
Chelsea’s hopes of defending that title faded long ago, with Man City 15 points ahead of the thirdplaced champions. Arsenal is languishing in sixth but Wenger is still through to a fourth domestic final in five seasons.
For once, it’s not the FA Cup providing cover for Wenger. Arsenal’s defence of the more prestigious domestic cup endedin a first-round loss to Nottingham Forest. But a first trip to the League Cup final since 2011 gives Wenger a chance on February 25 to add the only piece of domestic silverware missing in more than 21 years.