Arsenal player ratings vs Chelsea: One 4/10 and Gyokeres a ghost in win | Football | Sport
Arsenal secured their spot in the Carabao Cup final next month with a 97th-minute winner against Chelsea in the second leg of their semi-final. The Gunners looked set to hold their London rivals to a goalless draw at the Emirates until substitute Kai Havertz rounded Robert Sanchez to tap in seven minutes into injury time. That secured Arsenal a 4-2 aggregate win and their first League Cup final in eight years. It was a flat attacking performance from the north London club for much of the game as they mustered just a single shot on target before Havertz’s effort.
Arsenal only took six attempts on goal in a game short of quality in the final third at either end. But with Chelsea enjoying more possession, Mikel Arteta’s men were at least resilient defensively and then struck at the very death to see themselves into the March 22 final. They will face Manchester City or Newcastle at Wembley with City boasting a 2-0 lead in the other semi-final. Express Sport rates and slates the Arsenal players…
Kept his spot as the starting cup keeper and rewarded Mikel Arteta with a solid showing and a clean sheet against his old club. A good stop from Enzo Fernandez before half-time. Only bad moment was when he dropped a corner but it came to nothing.
Good defensively but not very progressive in possession despite completing 97 per cent of his passes. Had a threatening second-half header blocked by Marc Cucurella.
Slightly less assured than Gabriel. Found it tricky up against Joao Pedro in the first half and had a few physical tussles with the Brazilian at corners but ultimately still helped keep a clean sheet.
Imperious in the air and played a great pass into Gabriel Martinelli for a first-half chance. A colossus. Arsenal’s best player.
Forced a great save from Robert Sanchez first half. Turned out to be Arsenal’s only shot on target all match. Had no problems against Liam Delap or Malo Gusto.
Was very conservative in possession, not playing forward enough. But one great cross second half to Jurrien Timber, whose header was blocked, and broke up play a few times.
Wasn’t great at all in Arsenal’s build-up play despite seeing more of the ball than any of his team-mates not named Gabriel. But so solid defensively and managed some key contributions in stoppage time as Chelsea sought a late goal, including the pass to Havertz to score.
A passenger and just offered absolutely nothing in a game where Arsenal needed a spark. Should have been demanding the ball and trying to make something happen. Managed more touches in the final 25 minutes but without ever doing anything.
Didn’t get many chances to go at Jorrel Hato when Chelsea played with a back three. End product wasn’t great when he did have the ball.
A ghost on the pitch. Virtually anonymous but let’s be fair, it was because he got absolutely no service. Just one touch in the first half-hour and only ended with 10 touches when he left the pitch in the 69th minute.
Wasted a great chance to put Arsenal 1-0 up after giving Malo Gusto a chance to block his shot but was the hosts’ biggest threat first half with his running in behind. Less influential second half bar one second-half moment where he was tackled brilliantly by Trevoh Chalobah.
Had little impact off the bench and then he rounded Sanchez and scored to guarantee Arsenal’s spot at Wembley.
Leandro Trossard (Madueke 69) – 6
His only real moment of note on the ball saw him fail to get past Gusto down Arsenal’s left. But he worked really hard off it to help see Arsenal through.
