Arsenal’s semi-final record under manager Mikel Arteta has not made for pretty reading.
But, after failing to win even one leg in their previous four two-legged semis, Arsenal’s 3-2 win at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup has moved them one game away from a first major final since their FA Cup triumph in 2020.
The Gunners had lost their past four semi-finals over two legs, scoring just two goals in total, but will now be heavy favourites to end their semi-final nightmares at Emirates Stadium on 3 February.
Arteta’s side have been excellent this season – top of both the Premier League and Champions League, and through to the FA Cup fourth round.
This game was Arsenal’s 32nd of the season and they have only lost twice, both away from home to Liverpool and Aston Villa in the Premier League.
But Arteta and his players have the feeling that the margin of their win could have been even bigger before the second leg as they look to book themselves an early chance to lift a trophy in the EFL Cup final on 22 March.
“First of all, I have to praise the players for the performance, for the game that we just played against a really good opponent,” said Arteta.
“With so much quality on that pitch, we had the feeling at the end after the 1-3 and the very dominant period that we had in that time, that we had two massive chances to score the fourth one and the result would have been very different.
“But in that moment they had an action, they created a corner, they scored a goal and it’s game on. So that feeling is not perfect but as well we have to value what the team has done again.”