Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal - HIGHLIGHTS - Extended - Carabao Cup 2025⁄ 26

Chelsea versus Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge. It's always big whenever these two meet, but adding the fact that we're just a step away from Wembley... ...the game takes place under the west London lights and that it's Liam Rozinia's first home match... ...as head coach and you have all the makings of a special occasion. The Blues produce an excellent performance when the Gunners came here in November... a well-earned point despite playing for most of the match with 10 men, but it's about time Arsenal were vanquished here. Chelsea's last win against their rivals from the north was back in 2018. It's the first home game for the Blues in this competition since last season's third round after wins away to Lincoln, Wolves and Cardiff so far this term. As that man sits in the home dugout for the first time and what an occasion for him to have his first home game as Chelsea head coach. Let's take a check on the teams then. Chelsea welcome back Marc Kukerea from suspension. Cole Palmer and Rhys James are not involved. There's no Moises Caicedo because of suspension. De Laff and Gittins also miss out. Enzo Fernandes capped into the side. We're expecting him to partner Andre Santos in midfield. Joao Pedro will be in the 10 with Marc Diu leading the line. Tyrek George and Shim Mayuka are amongst the substitutes. Mikel Arteta names what is almost his strongest 11. He makes eight changes to the team that played Portsmouth. One player who keeps their place is the former Blue Kepa. He gets the nod in goal. Another ex-Chelsea man Kai Habers is on the bench. Saliba and Trossard have passed fitness tests. Before kickoff we are going to remember a Chelsea legend. Eddie McCready died yesterday aged 85. He scored the winner in the first leg of the League Cup final against Leicester here in 1965. It proved the decisive goal over the tie. He went on to make 410 appearances and as manager led a youthful team to promotion in 1977. Three players on the goal line for the Blues. They move away now. Well Sanchez came and didn't get there and he's headed in for 1-0 with barely seven minutes on the clock by Ben White. Their first corner and they've made best use of it and it's the worst possible start for Chelsea. Yeah you knew it was going to be delivered with real quality. Only had to look at their game at the weekend to show just how devastating they are in this situation. Probably everyone's expecting it to go into the near post area because they've had such joy and it actually goes almost to the far post. Does Sanchez get caught amongst the Floria players? He does. He's blocked in isn't he by a couple of his own players and a couple of Arsenal. Guillaume feathered it off for Esteve. What a pass that is for Joshua Champon who's going to have a go. The flag goes up after he stings the palms of Kepa. Esteve out just a fraction early. His movement. Arsenal pack their penalty area. Back to goal. Enzo Fernandes space right hand side. He's managed to shuffle it out there as well as Fernandes again. That's a great ball for Joao Pedro. Fade it across the face of goal rather than shoot himself and if he'd had his time again he might have made a different decision. Yeah strange because ultimately he looked like he was in a scoring position. Really well found. I don't know it's probably going to be blocked isn't it? Enzo Fernandes again instead of hugging that touchline and finding the space. What can he do with it? Up against Timber. Oh that was smack bang on target and it earns Chelsea a corner. Well he looks like he's got the key to unlock this Arsenal defence. Kepa have marshalled him all the way at the expense of a throw. Then has to get back into position quickly. Got to be careful with this challenge as well on a booking. Saka just brushed him aside. White on the overlap. Oh Sanchez has lost it and Yocheres will tap it in for 2-0. Horrible moment for the Chelsea defence. They scored at the start of the first half. They've done the same at the start of the second. Oh Victor Yocheres desperate for a goal has been given one gift wrap there and even with a game and a half to go it looks a long way back for Chelsea now. Chance for a shot from range here for Urdegaard. Beaten away by Sanchez. Lots of time and space to measure that the Arsenal captain. Too hot for the Chelsea goalkeeper to handle. Oh Enzo Fernandes will be able to get to this. And steaming in on Saliba. It's broken for Joao Pedro. Here's Neto Garnacho desperate to get involved far side. He's sent over that way. It'll come to Alejandro Garnacho. Chelsea back in it. It sends him back from the Argentine. He does great to keep his composure and make sure that he strikes it through and on the target. I thought that Fernandes had just hesitated a fraction here. He read the loose touch from Urdegaard and then his touch. Step out. Gonna have a go. I'll tell you what. That was headed on target were it not for the head of Gab Helsinghorne. Well it was certainly gonna be close. I would suggest it was still maybe gonna miss the far post but it was swinging. It was bending in towards the far corner. Looking for Jocarez. Bit of space for him here. Laid it off. Zoubimendi 3-1. So much time he had to put that into the back of Sanchez net. And just when Chelsea thought they were back in it. Arsenal pull away again. Down the Arsenal's right-hand side again. And the space afforded to Mourinho. I think it was that was allowed to get turned. That was the moment where I knew Chelsea were in big problem. I think it was for Kepa for taking too long over the free kick. Here's Jocarez. Orsaka and it's broken here for a fork for Arsenal but for a brilliant save. Mourinho strikes it so clean. That's outstanding goalkeeping. Over it comes when it's loose. There's Garnaccio. He's done it again. And Chelsea are back within a goal again. And just like in the quarterfinal it's Garnaccio at the double. It's Chelsea 2 Arsenal 3. And what's going to happen next? Well my sentiment immediately is it's a little rich the Arsenal players racing towards the referee asking for a free kick from what I presume was a bit of a challenge on the goalkeeper. It's Kepa who's kind of feeling his shoulder or his arm. There's certainly loads of bodies around him. Let's get a better idea here. They go up and challenge. He goes to ground. But Garnaccio does wonderfully well again. This is even harder than the initial one to control. Fernandes dwelling on it but it worked out all right for him. Or he could have played Garnaccio through. He's looked the other way to Esteve out. Chelsea's tail up. Esteve out! So close. Flag's gone up though. Had to release that earlier. Could have gone so much earlier. What it was though with a wonderful strike from this talented wide player. Yeah he's a good couple of yards offside sorry. Kepa makes a good save because he reacted smartly didn't he? Everyone inside the stadium's expecting that to go towards the far post. Martinelli. Oh good ball. Flag stayed down. Jesus. Penalty. Flag up over on the far side for offside. Kewt. You spotted it before me and Simon Long the assistant spotted it before Simon Hooper. It had to be offside. That was my initial feeling. Liam Rosinha's first home game in charge of Chelsea ends in a narrow defeat in the end. Ben White got things started for Arsenal who were 2-0 up not long after the break and Victor Llores pounced on a Sanchez error but Alejandro Garnaccio got Chelsea back into the game only for Zubi Mendy to take it away again. Only for Garnaccio to make it interesting. 3-2 Arsenal then Sam. Could have been worse. Second leg still alive. It's not the worst outcome at all I think you just yeah it's gonna be a tall order going to the Emirates the form that they've been in especially at home this season but with some returning players some big players as well for Chelsea in isolation we know Chelsea can turn up in big games.