WENGER’S UNFINISHED LEAGUE CUP BUSINESS
GUNNERS BOSS GOES FOR GLORY IN CARABAO FINAL AFTER KNOCKING OUT CHELSEA
Arsene Wenger revealed a sense of “unfinished business” with the Carabao Cup after Arsenal reached next month’ s final at Wembley with a 2-1 defeat of Chelsea last night.
In their first fixture since the confirmation of Alexis Sanchez’s transfer to Manchester United, Arsenal impressed in securing victory at the Emirates through an own goal from Antonio Rudiger and Granit Xhaka’s finish, after Eden Hazard had given Chelsea the lead.
They will contest the final against Manchester City on February 25, having last reached it in 2011, when a late defensive blunder gifted Birmingham an unexpected 2-1 victory in one of the most damaging defeats of Wenger’s managerial reign.
In 2007, they also lost 2-1 to Chelsea having taken an early lead, and discussing one of the trophies that has so far eluded him in England, Wenger said: “It’s unfinished business, because we didn’t win.
“We are again at Wembley and many times we were there, but now we are in it, we want to win it and we will play against a very strong side, so it could become a very interesting game.
“We are out of the FA Cup and so I will focus on the League Cup, and you can see that Manchester City do the same, so it is difficult to win trophies in England.
“What is important is the quality of the game (against Chelsea). We showed that we can beat big teams, no matter what competition it is, and what is important is the rest of the season.”
The 68-year-old had previously insisted that even reaching the final would not change the pessimistic mood, but, reminded of that, he responded: “I have the right sometimes to have a small sense of humour, even if I am not very talented in it.
“But that’s what I said. Somebody once told me that at Arsenal you are never more than five minutes away from a crisis. I said ‘No, three’.”
He was also again asked of Borussia Dortmund’s PierreEmerick Aubameyang, who he has been in talks about signing, but said: “If something happens it happens, if it doesn’t happen then we are strong enough. I am perfectly happy with the players I have. We got Henrikh Mkhitaryan in and I have a strong squad.”
Chelsea had made a promising start when Pedro had a header ruled out for offside before Hazard’s seventhminute finish.
Rudiger heading into his own goal when Marcos Alonso deflected Nacho Monreal’s header towards him.
Another fortuitous deflection off Rudiger led to the winner as Alexandre Lacazette’s pass hit the defender and flashed across goal where Xhaka steered it home.
Chelsea lostkey man Willian to injury on 30 minute, and manager Antonio Conte said: “The injury was decisive.
“I was forced to play with Ross Barkley. He’s a really good player, a great prospect, but he needs a bit of time to understand our football.”