Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Xhaka, Wilshere, Elneny, Iwobi, Ozil, Lacazette
Subs: Macey, Chambers, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Nelson, Nketiah
—
Arsenal made it to the final of the Carabao Cup after a Nacho Monreal Double Cannon and a second half strike from Granit Xhaka gave them a 2-1 win over Chelsea at the Emirates this evening.
Arsene Wenger made just one change to the starting XI that beat Crystal Palace 4-1 at the weekend, with David Ospina replacing Petr Cech in goal, while there was a place for Aaron Ramsey on the bench after his injury absence.
Arsenal began the game in careless fashion, giving the ball away carelessly in dangerous areas, and one of those concessions led to Pedro heading home in the 4th minute but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside.
The let-off didn’t last long though as the visitors went ahead just two minutes later. Pedro played Hazard in behind, the Arsenal defence was cut open far too easily, and the Belgian finished from close range. 0-1.
It needed a quick response and that’s what we got. After a good Bellerin cross was put behind for a corner, the set-piece came in, Nacho Monreal headed it towards goal, it hit Alonso, then Rudiger and it left the keeper wrongfooted as it dropped into the net. 1-1.
Hazard picked up a yellow for a foul on Ozil, Willian shot wide from inside our box, and Ospina was almost caught out with Hazard kept the ball in from a clever pass but frantic defending saw Arsenal get it clear.
Willian was forced off in the 28th minute, replaced by Ross Barkley who made his Chelsea debut, and a foul on the former Everton man saw Wilshere pick up a 31st minute booking. Xhaka curled a free kick just over via a deflection from a tight angle, and right before half-time some nicer Arsenal interplay saw an Ozil shot deflect just wide with the keeper at full stretch.
There were no changes at the break from either manager, and Xhaka had the first effort on goal when he curled over after the ball broke to him just outside the box. There was a strange moment when Hazard found himself through on goal, tearing towards the box, but he lost his balance and just fell over.
On the hour mark though, Arsenal were ahead on the night and in the tie. Lacazette did well out wide, crossed it into the middle, the ball deflected into the centre and Xhaka was there to poke home from close range like some kind of penalty area poacher. 2-1.
The two combined again but this time the Swiss international’s shot flew wide, as Chelsea brought on Batshuayi and Zappacosta to try and get the goal they needed. Hazard shot high and wide, while at the other end Ozil created a great chance for Iwobi but he saw his effort saved by the legs of Cabellero in the Chelsea goal.
Bellerin blocked an Alonso attempt at the back post as Antonio Conte’s men piled on the pressure. Arsene Wenger brought on Aaron Ramsey and Sead Kolasinac as the game entered its final 7 minutes, and there were hearts in mouths when Alonso stood over a 30 yard free kick but the Spaniard put it over the bar.
A late corner in 4 minutes of injury time could have proved dangerous but in the end solid defending, not least from Monreal, saw Arsenal through to Wembley to face Man City in the final on February 25th.
“Arsenal something something against Chelsea at the Emirates this evening.”
*runs to bookmakers*
Nacho Monreal, you legend. What a player !!
I was thinking the exact same thing during this game.. Is Nacho considered an Arsenal great? I think he is.. he has been sooo good especially this year
He certainly will if he keeps going like this
and last. His been one of Arsenals consistently top performers for a while now.
Nacho is a Legend, an Arsenal great in the making. Never moans, never been tempted by the crapy Barca DNA or the Dirty City cash. Always plays to the best of his ability.
Nacho Monreal-Eraso has been the quiet professional in this squad for a long time, and I am glad he is getting some opportunities for exposure. It appears that he doesn’t care about his haircut or his ink, apparently he only cares about results and he loves his teammates.
Have to say Wenger has really enjoyed a sort of golden period over Conte since he joined. So basically Conte should be Chelsea gaffer for a long while is what I am saying, or atleast till Wenger is at Arsenal.
Agreed! And what’s going on with our corner kicks these days — this strange behaviour of unpacking the box and letting four of our players go after it is really paying off … is that a, no, no it couldn’t be, … a tactic?
A tactic? Don’t be ridiculous!!
How is it we have ended up with a manager that’s taken he’s team to Wembley 4 times out of the last 5 and a large chunk of the fan base want him out.
God I remember the time we would be lucky to get there once a decade.
Because Arsenal have far bigger ambitions that just going to Wembley and Wenger has fallen so spectacularly short of meeting those ambitions that its not funny. Just look at the table. Arsenal are 6th and have not challenged for the league in more than a decade. That is not to say going to Wembley is not fun, but it needn’t be an either or situation. Arsenal could get a manager who takes the team to Wembley and ALSO challenges for the league and UCL. Wenger can’t. This should be very clear to anyone who has followed Arsenal in the past… Read more »
Cos the pundits will be playing everything down now. They’ll be highlighting the lightweight nature of this competition all of a sudden where before they would never fail to remind everybody that Wenger has never won this competition (never mind he normally uses it blood youngsters and as a development cup…which it should be)
BUT we are up against City for the finals so no one can begrudge us the win because its beat Chelsea (which we have) and then if we beat City, it would not have been a stroll by any means.
Great confidence booster for the team.
Starting to carabaot this now.
Solid.
Comment of the evening
So organised dude. Loving your work!
Uhhh…Blogs appears to be having technical difficulties?
Please don’t delete this Blogs.
Always been impressed with how quickly the reports are posted after the game. Posting them before the game is setting the bar even higher.
The reports, yes impressive. But where do they get the photos from so quickly..
🙂
Great result
I know it’s only a minor domestic cup but well done to the team for seeing off chelsea. Anything is possible in the final. Catch man city on a slightly bad day and the result could go our way.
haha 🙂
Love this. hahahahahaha
I start to like this Caribbean Cup!
Cowabunga Cup. They pay to have their name on it, and we should respect that.
When did they change from Cucaracha Cup? I’m confused.
Great performance!!! what a game. Only one more game and Wenger will win his first League Cup. COYG!!!
All those appearances at CB in pre season really paid off for Elneny
He looked really strong
He is settling in, hopefully he will improve some more.
Wierd. He seems more composed at Cback as the final man. When he plays further forward, maybe he doesn’t have as much of the power to cover the ground around him but in the deep role at the back, he sweeps everything up allowing Mustafi and Koscielny to better push forward and press slightly higher.
I wonder how Santori felt about Eneny’s performance?
Conflicted I bet.
El Neny was superb. So calm and tidy in possession. The midfield looks much more organised and in control with him in the middle. If he keep up such performances, I’d be less anxious about our CDM problems this season. On to Wembley now. The Mancs may be favourites. But when it comes to Wembley, you simply never count us out. And with the hopeful arrival of Aubameyang, I feel quietly confident we will pull it off. COYG!!
el neny sounds like a spanish expression for when your girlfriend says no to sex
but if its an expression for being unable to steal a cheap goal it sounds good.
I was less impressed than most with Elneny last game (I thought he slowed our attack too often), but he was really good tonight–certainly the best I have ever seen him play for us (I saw him on TV once for Egypt, and he was also really good).
Maybe he’s upping his game? All good – that man works his socks off (though it looked like he got caught ball watching when Pedro fed hazzard for their first. But we won, so whatever…)
Always thought Elneny is a tidy player, also like that he doesn’t seem to complain about being a squad player. Great game from the man!
Wenger Out!
While I think it’s better for the club if we move on at the end of the year, can’t you just enjoy a great victory and team effort. Playing 3 in the CM seems to have helped us stiffen up and with new additions there seems to be some hope for the attack. that doesn’t mean we’ve had a great season (being this far off the title race is flat out embarrassing) but not every single article requires someone complaining about Wenger. He did a good job tonight and that should be acknowledged
I am not complaining mate. Should have added an /s
COUGH *Sarcasm* COUGH
That’s the spirit
Yes Wenger out …. when he decides the team will do better with somebody else …..
Idiot
Hopefully after he lifts both the League and Europa League cup this season.
Yes, we’re going to Wembley! Monreal is such an important player for us.
Great to see the fox-in-the-box-Xhaka score. Let’s hope he can keep it up!
Nacho is just so alert… such a rare quality to find nowadays.. to be switched on for the whole match…
well deserved MOM.. and we have missed him massively…
bring on shitty…
Will he renew his contract ? City or Man U watching and Chelsea knows what he is about.
Nacho looks like he is home at Arsenal. One I would suggest wouldnt leave unless it was too good an offer to refuse.
Who needs Auba? We’ve got LANStriker Xhaka. It’s the BoomXhakaLaca effect.
Beside the goal, Xhaka was shit
He wasn’t “shit” but he wasn’t amazing either. He does look half hearted in defence most of the time. Good poaching for the goal though!
We are fast becoming Chelsea’s bogey team
Back to the good old days when we always beat them…once kanu showed them some magic….
What a win. That’s we call team work. Fighting for each other. Monreal is a rare gem. Ozil’s quality is just phenomenonal. I don’t know what to say about the ever improving Wilshere.
Come on Guns, let’s sign PEA.
Good days to be a gunner.
Jack was excellent. LIked the way he was communicating all the time too
Anyone know what formation we were playing. Looked like Bellerin had no help at all…
um everybody everywhere
It looked like a genuine 4-3-3, or if you want to be very pedantic a 4-1-2-2-1 (Elneny and Lacazette as the “1’s”). At the end, Elneny seemed to drop back between Koscielny and Mustafi when we were out of possession.
thanks!
I think it started as a 4-1-4-1. morphed into a 4-1-2-2-1 with one of the 2s really wide and the other narrow (and players interchanging the roles at random), and ended as a 5-5-0.
Who was the best player, Laca? No, Ozil? No, Wilshere?No. One and Only Monreal. What a player he is. One of the most underrated.
Monreal was a beast tonight
World Class.
Who needs Alexis… its two goals and two assists in two games!
Even assisted his goal today via courtesy of Alonso and Bakayoko. Great pin ball.
much to my surprise Elneny had an absolute barnstorming 2nd half.
Elneny and Monreal were outstanding today, co-MOTMs for me. Best match in an Arsenal jersey for Elneny.
Who is ur Daddy Chelsea?
Bill Clinton?
That has been debated actually.
Well done to the team and Wenger.
One key point for the final is, we start the key games so nervously, so full of misplaced passes in the initial mins, our defending is panicky and we end up conceding. It’s only after that a fight back starts. We can’t afford to give an easy start to ManC.
Hope Wenger gets the team to fight from the start.
Only in this game the misplaced passes lasted the entire match…
If Arsene does not pay Ozil whatever he demands, I will be convinced that he has gone senile.
Elneny; the new Tony Adams
I have to say at some point he slotted into the back 4 second half to make it a 3.
He was a bit lightweight all game but the moment he plays at Cback, it seems to work. We allowed Mustafi and Koscielny to intercept higher plus the fullbacks a bit more width. We controlled the game for large swaths of the second half where we struggled first half.
On the player rating later am I allowed to give 20 to Monreal?
Nacho is a fucking superhero. Solid team performance. Thankfully fortune favoured us today. Gotta pull up the socks against City though (maybe Purple Emerald Aubergine could help out with that).
Let’s fucking win this cup now!
You make your own luck.
Granit gambling into the box. If you don’t who knows who would have gathered up the deflection.
On Granit, he almost scored a beauty from the free kick from the right side. but he can also mishit the easier chances. A bit of an enigma.
But came up with the main course today.
All that mouth about us losing our best player this week but as far as I’m aware Nacho Monreal still plays for The Arsenal.
Comment of the year. Infinite thumbs up
We looked much better without that Chilean bloke
2nd Goal -> Boom, xhaka-laca? 😀
London is…… RED !!!!
ps: 81st minute… corner for Chelsea… Ospina gets out and goes nowhere near to touch the ball…. Rudiger heads it over… Ospina doesn’t know where the ball and seeks it in his net… but it’s not ??
Great game. Elneny controlled that midfield from the back. Iwobi was immense. The defense were on the ball except for the goal early on. Big up Lacazette on his hard work. Seems Xhaka plays way better when a little further forward. Oh and one more thing!!!!
OOOOOOOOOOOsssssssppppppppiiiiiinnnnnnaaaaaaa!!!!
Well played and loved the defensive “dark arts”…COYG!
Beating Chelski always feels soo good!
What a solid and committed performance from Monreal. MOTM by miles.
433?! We look like we have our identity back?! Who would of thought. Well played Arsene.
Great win gunners. Our two subs didn’t look much cop when they came on. Ramsey is slower than Denilson ?
Nacho Monreal Club de Futbol
Could Elneny be our new CB in a back 3/5?
Also, monreal is a bloody legend
It is no coincidence that when Monreal was out we suffered our worst form of the season. Keeping the fingers crossed that he is healthy the rest of the way (and also welcome back into the side, Owen Goal!).
The Mourinho treble is on! Lmaooo! Well done lads!
Completely offtopic, but does anybody else also think that Morata is exactly like Lord Bendtner? Has all the physical qualities, even technically quite fine, but is just astonishingly bad at finishing…
Hilarious goals today btw, and loved it that we managed to kill the game off in the end, and didn’t start to do stupid stuff. Also I really liked that Özil seems to have a lot more freedom without Sanchez in the team. Heres to hoping that we well respond to Sanchez’s leaving like we did to Henry’s leaving.
Arsenal fan walks into Wembley and says
“Usual please barman “
Thank you for coming back at the right time Nacho
He knows how to lift my spirit after Atom and Humber left us…with their pet dog…
Thank you. Classic.
Great result, ground out. But you could see we were pining for Sanchez as so many of our players were determined to pay tribute through the medium of giving the ball away.
Who’s he?
A Chilean we took on from some Spanish club but passed on to one of those northern clubs who used to be great a long time ago.
Great win and team performance second half.
Nacho has been immense this season.
And we have to nail down Mesut’s contract, he was imperious again today and I love how he’s really started to impose his personality on games. I’d be tempted to give him the armband if it wasn’t such a poisoned chalice in the past…
Great game. Elneny controlled that midfield from the back. Iwobi was immense. The defense were on the ball except for that goal early on. Big up Lacazette on his hard work. Seems Xhaka plays way better when further forward. Oh and one more thing! Ooooosssssppppiiiiiinnnnnaaaa!
Just another cup victory over the superbly brilliant, the wonderfully great, the mesmerically good, the stratosphericly awesome Chelsea.
Terrible this Wenger fella, eh
1) Wenger’s got the better of tactical genius Conte how many times now? 2) Who needs Alexis when we have Monreal? 2 goals and 2 assists in 2 games and counting. 3) Nacho man absolutely meant to put that goal via Alonso and Babayoko pin ball style. He’s that good. One could even argue he assisted his own goal via the two clueless Chelsea players. World Class. 4) The linesmen were annoying. Are they on the take from Abramovich? Lost count of the number of offsides called against us for the most marginal of difference. Whatever happened to clear daylight?… Read more »
Yes. Mkhy was signed as left field replacement for the Coq……
Get in the lads!! Good stuff and another final! And we have chelsea’s number again at long last. Oooh to be a Gooner!
Decent game…Very good second half…We were poor first half but still blunted Chelsea and defended well..Iwobi did well on Moses and then had a very productive second half despite his miss that could have been costly. Xhaxa and Elneny who i was cursing at half time had much improved 2nd periods..Elneny in articular seemed transformed and we looked solid when he slid into the back. Monreal as usual is flawless. His interceptions must be the highest in the league…Makes a solid 4 or 5 clean ones a game. We beat them fairly easily in the end, which is encouraging because… Read more »
There is life – great life – after Alexis. The boys have risen to the occasion. Chelsea were made to look toothless and ordinary after the second goal.
If we play like this in the league, we’ll make top four.
Love the Chupacabra Cup, always have, one of the greatest cups in English football! 😀
How come Nacho doesn’t have his own chant?!
Nacho Nacho Man.
Nacho nacho man. I want to be a nacho man !
Got to be this