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Mikel Arteta's Arsenal tactic almost exposed by Chelsea as Gunners book Wembley spot
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are Wembley bound - but his cunning Premier League tactic was exposed by Liam Rosenior's Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal will be making the trip across London next month as they held onto their slender lead in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup against Chelsea.
The Gunners had looked like champions-elect three weeks ago as their free-flowing football threatened to blow Chelsea away, and they could have done so if it wasn't for Alejandro Garnacho. However, Tuesday evening's clash couldn't have been further from that.
Instead, the two Premier League titans looked nervous, neither wanting to make a mistake, leading to a weird standoff of zero attacking quality. Kai Havertz netted the only goal of the game, as Chelsea final threw the kitchen sink at the game, allowing a counter attack from the Gunners.
The only early moment of excitement came in the 20th minute - when the Gunners won their first corner of the game, which these days is akin to penalty for Arteta's side.
Arsenal were swamping the box and Robert Sanchez, when a cheer from the away end signalled the home team that three Chelsea players were racing up the pitch. Arsenal knew they couldn't risk throwing so many men forward and were forced to retreat.
Arteta's genius tactic, all of a sudden, had a gaping hole as Arsenal couldn't pressure the keeper.
It was hardly a semi-final classic, Arsenal knew a draw was good enough and Chelsea couldn't break down the Gunners defence.
However, it wasn't a great performance by Arsenal either, they looked void of ideas going forwards - but there wasn't a sense of invincibility at the back.
Instead, it felt like Chelsea could knick a goal, as they did in the first leg, at any given moment. But it wouldn't be from some individual brilliance, more a team forcing the referee to make a decision.
Chelsea started to push and push and the game, in the 97th minute, finally opened up as Havertz rounded Sanchez to send Arsenal to Wembley.
Arsenal will now most likely face Manchester City at Wembley, with Pep Guardiola's side, despite some questionable form in the Premier League, two goals to the good on aggregate.
Arsenal and City have only clashed once so far this season, playing out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates where Guardiola, uncharacteristically, set up his team negatively looking to cling on to an early lead.
Daily Star Sunday
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are Wembley bound - but his cunning Premier League tactic was exposed by Liam Rosenior's Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal will be making the trip across London next month as they held onto their slender lead in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup against Chelsea.
The Gunners had looked like champions-elect three weeks ago as their free-flowing football threatened to blow Chelsea away, and they could have done so if it wasn't for Alejandro Garnacho. However, Tuesday evening's clash couldn't have been further from that.
Instead, the two Premier League titans looked nervous, neither wanting to make a mistake, leading to a weird standoff of zero attacking quality. Kai Havertz netted the only goal of the game, as Chelsea final threw the kitchen sink at the game, allowing a counter attack from the Gunners.
The only early moment of excitement came in the 20th minute - when the Gunners won their first corner of the game, which these days is akin to penalty for Arteta's side.
Arsenal were swamping the box and Robert Sanchez, when a cheer from the away end signalled the home team that three Chelsea players were racing up the pitch. Arsenal knew they couldn't risk throwing so many men forward and were forced to retreat.
Arteta's genius tactic, all of a sudden, had a gaping hole as Arsenal couldn't pressure the keeper.
It was hardly a semi-final classic, Arsenal knew a draw was good enough and Chelsea couldn't break down the Gunners defence.
However, it wasn't a great performance by Arsenal either, they looked void of ideas going forwards - but there wasn't a sense of invincibility at the back.
Instead, it felt like Chelsea could knick a goal, as they did in the first leg, at any given moment. But it wouldn't be from some individual brilliance, more a team forcing the referee to make a decision.
Chelsea started to push and push and the game, in the 97th minute, finally opened up as Havertz rounded Sanchez to send Arsenal to Wembley.
Arsenal will now most likely face Manchester City at Wembley, with Pep Guardiola's side, despite some questionable form in the Premier League, two goals to the good on aggregate.
Arsenal and City have only clashed once so far this season, playing out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates where Guardiola, uncharacteristically, set up his team negatively looking to cling on to an early lead.
Daily Star Sunday