Arsenal reached the Carabao Cup final for the first time since 2018 after a dramatic 1-0 win over Chelsea in the second leg of their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Kai Havertz, the former Chelsea forward, scored the only goal in the 96th minute to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Mikel Arteta’s side had taken a 3-2 lead from the first leg at Stamford Bridge two weeks earlier, with goals from Viktor Gyökeres, Ben White and Martin Zubimendi.
Tuesday’s return was a tense, cagey affair on a rain-soaked pitch, with few clear chances until the dying seconds.
Chelsea, under new manager Liam Rosenior, pushed hard in the second half after substitutions including Cole Palmer and Estêvão.
They forced a VAR check for a late penalty claim by Gabriel Martinelli and threatened through Enzo Fernández and Wesley Fofana, but left themselves vulnerable on the break.
As the visitors committed numbers forward in six minutes of added time, Arsenal countered: Leandro Trossard fed Declan Rice, who squared for Havertz. The German rounded goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and tapped into an empty net, sparking wild celebrations.
The Gunners’ progress ends a run of four previous semi-final exits in the competition and keeps them on course for a first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.
They will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final at Wembley on 22 March.
