Ex-Blue Scores 97th-Minute Winner to Send Arsenal to Wembley Final

It just had to be him. In a finish that felt scripted for the history books, Kai Havertz struck a dagger into the hearts of his former club, scoring a last-gasp winner to send Arsenal through to the 2026 Carabao Cup final.

The Emirates Stadium erupted in the 7th minute of stoppage time on Tuesday night when Havertz, appearing as a second-half substitute, latched onto a clinical counter-attack. The German international displayed ice-cold composure to round Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez and slot the ball into an empty net, sealing a 1-0 win on the night and a 4-2 aggregate triumph.

For 90 minutes, it was a tactical war of attrition. Chelsea, revitalized under new boss Liam Rosenior, arrived with a “park-the-bus” five-man defense that frustrated Mikel Arteta’s men. Despite Arsenal’s dominance in possession, clear-cut chances were as rare as a quiet night in North London. The Blues looked set to force the game into a nervous finale until Havertz found the spark that had been missing all night.

“We had to wade through deep waters to get here,” a jubilant Arteta said after the match. “But Kai has a way of coming up with the goods on the biggest stages. This club belongs at Wembley.”

The victory is cathartic for the Gunners, who haven’t tasted a League Cup final since 2018. It also cements their absolute dominance over their London rivals, extending their unbeaten streak against Chelsea to a staggering 10 games.

Arsenal now turns its eyes toward Wembley for the final on March 22. They will wait to see who emerges from tonight’s second semi-final between Manchester City and Newcastle. Whether it’s a rematch against the reigning champions or a clash with the Magpies, one thing is certain: the red half of London is already planning its trip to the national stadium.