Arsenal grabbed the benefit within the EFL Cup semi-final in opposition to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with an entertaining 3-2 win, with Victor Görekes scoring and helping.
Liam Rosenior’s first residence sport in control of the Blues resulted in a defeat regardless of substitute Alejandro Garnacho scoring two targets within the second half, with Ben White and Martin Zvimendi becoming a member of Gokeres on Arsenal’s scoresheet.
The guests wanted simply seven minutes to indicate off their set-piece prowess as White headed residence Declan Rice’s deep nook kick with Robert Sanchez in no man’s land, and the objective survived a VAR test to see if Gokeres had interfered with play attributable to being offside.
Gokeres then swung together with his left foot and dribbled throughout the entrance of the objective and out of bounds, whereas João Pedro adopted with an identical shot from the appropriate facet of the Arsenal space, sending a whimsical shot residence.
The sport began late within the first half when Kepa Arrizabalaga pushed Estevao’s drive huge and William Saliba curled it into the roof of the web on the different finish.
Arsenal began the second half even sooner than the primary, with Sánchez slipping by way of White’s heart 4 minutes after the restart to present Gokeres a tap-in, however simply earlier than the tip Garnacho’s back-post end put Chelsea up 2-1.
Benefit Arsenal
Let’s end work and go residence pic.twitter.com/0ziSUZDmW9
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 14, 2026
Arsenal regained their two-goal cushion with 19 minutes remaining, Gökeres expertly conserving the ball and Zvimendi evading a number of assaults earlier than slotting it into the left facet of the objective.
A two-goal loss would have despatched Chelsea up the mountain heading into the second leg on February 3, however Garnacho’s half-volley bounced off the grass and made it 3-2 within the closing phases.
Knowledge Report: Tremendous Sub Garnacho Might Not Full Counterattack
Arsenal have the benefit heading into the second leg, however Chelsea will really feel they’re nonetheless degree, thanks largely to Garnacho.
The Argentine additionally scored two targets as an alternative within the final sport in opposition to Cardiff Metropolis, and his 5 targets off the bench in all competitions are probably the most of any Premier League participant this season.
2 – Alejandro Garnacho turned the primary Premier League participant to attain twice in each the quarter-finals and semi-finals in the identical League Cup marketing campaign since Manchester Metropolis’s Edin Dzeko in 2013-14. Counterattack. pic.twitter.com/tXTppK5f4u
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 14, 2026
At Arsenal, Gokeres scored his first EFL Cup objective since scoring for Brighton in opposition to Portsmouth in September 2020, after which recorded his first help for the membership.
The fundamental numbers counsel the Gunners ought to have received extra impressively, with 17 pictures heading in the right direction in comparison with Chelsea’s 10, profitable the Anticipated Targets (xG) battle 2.68 to 0.65, however leaving Mikel Arteta’s facet with only a slim result in take again to the Emirates Stadium.
