Breath-taking win over Chelsea, Arsenal take a big step towards the Carabao Cup final

(Football result) - Chelsea lost 2-3 to Arsenal on home ground at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, with personal mistakes leaving Liam Rosenior’s side in a tough position before the return match.

Early this morning (Vietnam time), Chelsea suffered a bitter 2-3 defeat against Arsenal on their home turf in the match of the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, which put them in a difficult situation ahead of the second leg.

The game started in the worst possible way for the Stamford Bridge hosts. In the 7th minute, a serious mistake by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez cost Chelsea dearly. From a left-wing corner by Declan Rice, Sanchez rushed out indecisively, allowing Ben White to easily head in the opener for Arsenal.

After conceding early, Arsenal continued to apply heavy pressure with superior midfield control. Nevertheless, Chelsea tried to hold on and kept the deficit minimal until halftime. In the second half, the home side’s nightmare continued as Sanchez made another unbelievable error. In the 52nd minute, the Spanish goalkeeper fumbled inside the box, allowing Viktor Gyokeres to charge in and score close-range, extending Arsenal’s lead to 2-0.

Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Chelsea found a spark from the brilliance of Alejandro Garnacho. The substitute reduced the deficit to 1-2 with a clever finish threading the ball between Kepa Arrizabalaga’s legs. However, the home side’s joy was short-lived. Minutes later, Martin Zubimendi unleashed a powerful long-range shot to restore Arsenal’s two-goal advantage.

Late efforts earned Chelsea a second goal as Garnacho completed his brace. Still, the 2-3 home loss means Chelsea must win by at least two goals in the return leg at Emirates if they want to secure a place in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.