The wait is finally over for Arsenal. After nearly six years without reaching a major final, Mikel Arteta’s side have booked their place at Wembley, edging past Chelsea 4–2 on aggregate in a tense Carabao Cup semi-final. It may not have been a classic, but when Kai Havertz rolled in a late goal to seal progression, the eruption of joy at Emirates Stadium underlined just how significant this moment feels.
This will be Arsenal’s first major final since Arteta guided them to FA Cup glory in 2020, and only the second of his reign. For a team that has spent recent seasons knocking loudly on the door, the victory represents more than just another cup run; it is a chance to finally silence accusations of being football’s “nearly men”.
According to BBC Sport, the semi-final itself was tight and cautious, with both sides managing just two shots on target, yet Arsenal rarely looked troubled. Calm, controlled, and defensively solid, they showed the maturity that has made them so difficult to beat this season. The result sets up a ninth EFL Cup final for the club, where they will face either Manchester City or Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday, 22 March.
Should City await them, the narrative deepens. It would be a repeat of the 2018 League Cup final, which City won when Arteta was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff. This time, however, Arteta would be attempting to deny his former mentor while delivering Arsenal’s first League Cup triumph in 33 years.
Arteta was quick to praise the atmosphere and togetherness that carried his side through. He spoke of the “special” energy inside the stadium and described reaching the final as a reward for years of hard work and belief. For him, moments like these are not just about silverware, but about validating the journey the team has taken.
Midfielder Declan Rice echoed that sentiment, admitting Arsenal had been close before but not quite good enough. He pointed to an added hunger this season, an edge forged from past disappointments, as the fuel driving their push to go further in every competition.
Those disappointments have been hard to ignore. Since lifting the FA Cup in 2020, Arsenal had reached four semi-finals and lost every one, often without seriously competing. In the Premier League, they have also watched title challenges slip away after holding commanding positions. That history has placed heavier pressure on Arteta than ever before to deliver tangible success.
Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson believes this breakthrough is the product of long-term planning. He describes the club’s progress as “years in the making”, with Arteta steadily building a culture of togetherness, resilience, and belief. Winning a semi-final, Upson argues, is a crucial psychological step, one that could unlock even greater achievements.
Momentum is now firmly with the Gunners. Beyond the Carabao Cup final, they sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League, are through to the last 16 of the Champions League after a perfect league-phase campaign, and face League One opposition in the FA Cup. While talk of a quadruple may be premature, Arsenal are undeniably well placed across multiple fronts.
Defender William Saliba insists the squad is built for the pressure. With months of the season still to play, he believes Arsenal have the depth, quality, and coaching to compete everywhere. His confidence is not misplaced—history shows that success in the League Cup often precedes further trophies, with several past winners going on to lift more silverware in the same campaign.
For now, one game stands between Arsenal and ending a long wait for another trophy. Victory at Wembley would not only add silverware to Arteta’s project but could also redefine how this team is viewed. After years of coming close, Arsenal finally have the chance to prove they are no longer nearly men, but genuine winners once again.
