CARABAO CUP 

ARSENAL 1 (Havertz 97)

CHELSEA 0 

THERE was a party atmosphere at the end of this physically compelling but ultimately boring football match thanks to the late winner from Kai Havertz.

Chelsea fans had sung all through the game about their previous conquests in Europe, but it was the man that scored their Champions League final winning goal that has put them out of this tournament.

The delicious irony was a huge boost for supporters who are getting edgy as the business end of what promises to be a silverware-laden season approaches.

Does it matter that this match was so dire for large parts?

Most fans will happily accept watching overly cautious and repetitive style of play if the victories keep coming as they are.

If they don’t win trophies playing this way, questions will continue to be asked.

After the match manager Mikel Arteta said: “It was a long match, we expected that, we wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way, with Kai scoring the goal in the manner that he did and the reaction from the crowd.

“The starters, the finishers, the staff, it was just magical. So I’m really happy because it was a really tough match against a great opponent and we’re in Wembley.”

Arteta described getting to the final as like an energy shot, adding: “It’s the best vitamins that we can put in our bodies because we’re playing every three days.

“But the fact that you work so hard to achieve those moments and to have these moments together, it’s just magical, because you can see the joy, the smile, the energy in the dressing room and everybody who works at the club.”

The 8pm kick off began in the pouring rain with temperatures low.

Arsenal started in typical suffocation mode, swarming the Chelsea midfielders and going in hard.

The most effective passes from both teams came by by-passing the midfield entirely.

Chelsea were pinging diagonal balls out wide from around the centre circle and Arsenal were playing long-rakers for Gabi Martinelli to chase.

Martinelli had a couple of half chances in the first half and Hincapie – who was playing almost a free roaming position – had a well hit shot curling shot saved.

Versatile Pierro Hincapie was immense in defence and fully deserved his clean sheet alongside the three other giants.

Has there been a more organised and tougher back line in world football than Arsenal have right now.

Chelsea also tried to disrupt the Arsenal corner routine.

Just before the ball was swung in, three forwards would race up the wings into space left by all the defenders attacking the ball. The hope was to make an easy counter attack, but it also left them exposed to a goal.

Arsenal seemed to have a plan for this tactic, proposed by pundit Shay Given earlier in the season, with players immediately tearing off to chase them back.

Chelsea knocked on the door at the end, with three good chances to take the game to extra time. In years gone by, you would have felt almost certain that there would be an equaliser and a nervous extra time.

But super solid style means goals only come when something special happens.

Arsenal have lost four semi finals at Wembley since winning the FA Cup in 2020.

There was a bit of light relief as the match came to a close when Chelsea manager bumbled controlling a long ball on the edge of the dug-out.

Arsenal: Kepa, Hincapié, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Martinelli, Gyökeres (Havertz 69), Madueke (Trossard 69)
Subs not used: Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Raya, Nørgaard, White, Jesus

Chelsea: Sánchez, Hato (Estêvão 60), Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella, Fernández, Santos (Garnacho 75), Caicedo, Gusto (Acheampong 87), Pedro Delap (Palmer 60)
Subs not used: Holland, Mheuka, Badiashile, Sharman-Lowe