Live
Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal: Alejandro Garnacho double keeps Blues in Carabao Cup semi-final
- Full-time: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
- 83 mins: GOAL - Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
- 71 mins: GOAL - Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal
- 57 mins: GOAL - Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal
Phil Haigh
Published January 14, 2026 6:30pm
Updated January 14, 2026 10:13pm
Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook
Comment now
Comments
A thrilling Carabao Cup semi-final first leg finished 3-2 to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea beaten but alive in the tie.
The Gunners were ahead early on as Ben White nodded in from a corner after just seven minutes, with Robert Sanchez flapping at the cross.
It got worse for the Blues keeper as he fumbled a low cross to allow Viktor Gyokeres to poke home a second just after the break.
Things looked pretty bleak for Liam Rosenior’s men at that point but they responded impressively after a spell of Arsenal pressure.
Substitute Alejandro Garnacho got Chelsea back into it with a smart finish just before the hour mark, but Martin Zubimendi’s strike re-established Arsenal’s two-goal lead.
Garnacho popped up at the back post late on, though, netting from a corner as Kepa Arrizabalaga floundered on the deck.
The second leg is played at the Emirates next month and while clearly Arsenal have the advantage, Garnacho has kept Chelsea hopes alive.
Prefer us to the others? Then tell Google!
As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. Whether it is the latest politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.
Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
Our journalists work hard to deliver the most important stories from around the world
The Gunners thought they had a penalty late on as Gabriel Jesus was taken down by Jorrel Hato, but the Brazilian was eventually given offside.
More Trending
-
£50million Arsenal star could 'force move' to Liverpool in January transfer window
Channel: Football Football 14 hours ago By James Goldman - Chelsea vs Arsenal: Predicted lineups today and Carabao Cup team news
- Chelsea open talks to sign AFCON star ahead of January transfer deadline
- Chelsea told it was a 'mistake' to sign £40m star as Man Utd have last laugh
There were eight bookings in the match, which was largely good-spirited, but got spicy towards the end and there were handbags after the final whistle.
Rosenior, who was taking charge of his first game at Stamford Bridge, was on the field dragging captain Enzo Fernandez away from the trouble.
White sounded frustrated that Chelsea got back into the game after the break, telling Sky Sports: ‘We didn’t play very well in the second half and let them give us more pressure. Not up to our standards really, a disappointing second half.’
Hostilities will resume on Tuesday February 3 in north London.
Live Feed
Sort: Newest first Oldest first January 14, 2026 10:02 pm That’s it! Phil HaighThanks for following our live coverage of a brilliant clash which finished Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal in this Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
January 14, 2026 9:56 pm Full-time: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil HaighThat’s it. Arsenal take it 3-2 in a fantastic contest.
Deserved victory but Chelsea battled well and Garnacho capitalised well for two second half goals.
January 14, 2026 9:55 pm 90+6 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal – Yellow card Phil HaighJurrien Timber booked for a foul on Andrey Santos
January 14, 2026 9:54 pm 90+5 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil HaighThe home fans seething with Chelsea knocking it about at the back deep into injury time. It does make its way up to Garnacho and then Estevao, a cross comes in but Neto can only manage a tame header.
January 14, 2026 9:53 pm 90+4 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil HaighArsenal win a penalty as Jesus is hacked down by Hato. No, he was offside, it just took the officials forever to give. Just put your flag up!
January 14, 2026 9:51 pm 90+2 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil HaighChelsea slowly playing the ball out from the back in injury time, much to their fans’ disgust.
January 14, 2026 9:50 pm 90+1 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil HaighWhite eventually slings the ball into the box after a short free-kick but it’s easy for Sanchez. Chelsea look to break, Estevao ambitiously asks for a penalty after a coming together with Gabriel. Nope.
January 14, 2026 9:49 pm 90 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal – Yellow card Phil HaighPedro Neto gets booked for shouting something at the ref. Andrey Santos had given away a clear free-kick for a foul on Saka. Neto was fuming for some reason.
January 14, 2026 9:48 pm 89 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil HaighKai Havertz getting loudly booed by the Chelsea fans
January 14, 2026 9:48 pm 88 mins: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil HaighKepa under pressure again, but he does win a free-kick this time as he flaps at a cross.
January 14, 2026 9:43 pm 83 mins: GOAL – Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal Phil HaighIt’s Garnacho again!
Neto’s corner eventually falls to Garnacho at the back post and he hits a good enough shot with Kepa on the deck, it goes in.
The Arsenal keeper was hoping for a foul but it is not given. He jumped with a number of players and ended on the floor, allowing Garnacho to score.
January 14, 2026 9:42 pm 83 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil HaighAs often when there have been so many substitutes late on, the game becomes a little disjointed. Estevao remains a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side, though, winning a corner on the right.
January 14, 2026 9:40 pm 81 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal – Substitutes Phil HaighChelsea take off Joao Pedro and Cucurella for Tosin and Mheuka
Arsenal also making changes as Rice and Gyokeres come off for Havertz and Jesus.
January 14, 2026 9:39 pm 79 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil HaighAlan Smith on Sky Sports commentary says this has been one of Estevao’s best games in a Chelsea shirt. He has certainly been their most threatening player.
January 14, 2026 9:37 pm 78 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal – Yellow card Phil HaighPoor challenge from Merino on Joao Pedro. Clearly a booking.
January 14, 2026 9:36 pm 76 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil HaighWhat a chance for Merino and a superb save from Sanchez.
A big scrap for the ball in the Chelsea box sees it pop up to an unmarked Merino and he fires in a good shot that is brilliantly kept out.
The subsequent corner is headed into the ground by Gabriel and it bounces over. Another good chance!
January 14, 2026 9:35 pm 76 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal – Yellow card Phil HaighArrizabalaga gets booked for time wasting.
January 14, 2026 9:34 pm 75 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil HaighHato comes on for Fofana as Rosenior mixes up his defence
January 14, 2026 9:33 pm 74 mins: Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil HaighObviously that is a hammer blow to Chelsea, who had been lively in their pursuit for an equaliser.
They have not given up though, with Estevao still bright and threatening.
January 14, 2026 9:30 pm 71 mins: GOAL – Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Phil HaighMartin Zubimendi scored Arsenal’s third!
Great goal from the midfielder, who showed very neat feet in the Chelsea box, making space for himself before firing past Sanchez. Gyoekres laid it off for Zubimendi nicely.
Arrow MORE: Liam Rosenior urged to sell £25m Chelsea flop after Arsenal defeat
Arrow MORE: Why Moises Caicedo is not playing for Chelsea against Arsenal tonight
Arrow MORE: Arsenal’s stance on loaning out Ethan Nwaneri this January
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source Football Newsletter – In The MixerPunchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro's football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.
Team Expand Options ? Select All Select All Arsenal Arsenal Aston Villa Aston Villa Bournemouth Bournemouth Brighton Brighton Burnley Burnley Chelsea Chelsea Crystal Palace Crystal Palace Everton Everton Fulham Fulham Leeds United Leeds United Liverpool Liverpool Manchester City Manchester City Manchester United Manchester United Newcastle Newcastle Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest Sunderland Sunderland Tottenham Tottenham West Ham West Ham Wolves Wolves Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy
