Football is a funny old game, isn't it? One minute you’re coasting, basically planning your travel for a cup final, and the next, Alejandro Garnacho is making your heart do backflips in the final ten minutes. If you missed the Arsenal FC last game, you missed a classic London derby that had a bit of everything: tactical masterclasses, a new striker finding his feet, and a reminder that no lead is ever truly "safe" when you're playing Chelsea at the Bridge.
Arsenal walked away with a 3-2 victory in the first leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night. Honestly, it was a weird one. For about 70 minutes, Mikel Arteta’s men looked like they were playing a different sport. They were crisp. They were dominant. But the scoreline doesn't quite tell the story of how much they flirted with disaster toward the end.
The Night Martin Zubimendi Ran the Show
Let’s talk about the midfield. Most people focus on the goals, but the real story of the Arsenal FC last game was Martin Zubimendi.
Ever since he arrived, people have been comparing him to Declan Rice, but they’re different animals. While Rice is the engine, Zubimendi is the architect. His goal in the 71st minute wasn't just a lucky strike; it was the culmination of a performance where he seemingly had the ball on a string. He’s so composed in tight spaces that it’s almost frustrating to watch if you’re a Chelsea fan.
Arteta mentioned after the match that Zubimendi "sees the picture very clear." That’s a massive understatement. He was popping up in pockets of space that Chelsea’s midfield—even with all their expensive signings—just couldn't close down.
Why Viktor Gyökeres is the Missing Piece
Then there’s the big man up front. Viktor Gyökeres is proving to be exactly what this squad needed. For years, the knock on Arsenal was that they tried to "walk the ball in."
Gyökeres doesn't do that.
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His goal in the 49th minute was pure persistence. He’s a physical nightmare for defenders. Watching him wrestle with Benoît Badiashile was like watching a heavyweight bout. He gives Arsenal a focal point that allows Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard to drift into dangerous areas without the pressure of being the sole goal threats.
Arsenal FC last game: A Tale of Two Halves
The first half was a Ben White masterclass. He opened the scoring just seven minutes in.
Seven minutes!
That set the tone. Arsenal's defensive organization in that opening 45 minutes was basically a brick wall. Chelsea had more possession at times, but they were doing absolutely nothing with it. It was "sterile possession," as the pundits like to call it.
But then the second half happened.
After Zubimendi made it 3-1, something shifted. Maybe it was the substitutions or maybe Arsenal just took their foot off the gas, but Chelsea woke up. Alejandro Garnacho, who was quiet for most of the night, decided to remind everyone why he’s a problem. He bagged his second goal in the 83rd minute, and suddenly, Stamford Bridge was shaking.
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- Goal 1: Ben White (7') - Early lead for the Gunners.
- Goal 2: Viktor Gyökeres (49') - Doubled the advantage after the break.
- The Response: Garnacho (57') - Chelsea claws one back.
- The Architect: Zubimendi (71') - Restored the two-goal cushion.
- The Late Scare: Garnacho (83') - Set up a frantic finish.
It was chaotic. It was loud. It was exactly what a cup semi-final should be.
The Ben White Injury Concern
It wasn't all celebrations, though. The sight of Ben White limping off is enough to give any Arsenal fan a headache. Arteta confirmed in his post-match presser that it looks like a hamstring issue.
"Probably tomorrow or the day after, we'll know more," he said, sounding a bit weary. White has been a bit of an "iron man" for this team, playing through knocks and being a constant 7/10 performer. Losing him now, especially with the schedule looking the way it does, is a huge blow.
What This Means for the Title Race and the Quadruple
You’ve probably heard the "Q" word being whispered around North London. Quadruple. It sounds crazy, but as of mid-January 2026, Arsenal are still alive in four competitions.
They’re sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League. They’ve got a foot in the Carabao Cup final. They’re into the FA Cup fourth round. And they went six-for-six in their Champions League group.
But staying at that level requires a specific kind of mental toughness. The Arsenal FC last game showed that while they can outplay anyone, they still have those "passive" moments that Arteta hates. Those two or three minutes where they lose focus and let an opponent back in. Against a team like Man City or Liverpool in the league, those mistakes get punished even harder.
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Looking Ahead: The City Ground Trap
Next up is a trip to Nottingham Forest. If you’ve followed the Premier League for more than a week, you know the City Ground is a nightmare for top teams.
Sean Dyche has that Forest team playing a very "efficient" style. They aren't going to give Arsenal the kind of space Chelsea did. It’s going to be a scrap.
Arteta is already calling it a "very tough match." He’s right. Coming off the high of a win at Stamford Bridge, it’s easy to have a let-down. But if Arsenal want to prove they are the real deal this season, they have to go to places like Forest and grind out three points, even if it's ugly.
Key Takeaways for Fans:
- Keep an eye on the injury report: Ben White's hamstring is the biggest story of the week.
- Zubimendi is untouchable: He’s arguably the most important player in the system right now.
- The 3-2 lead is tricky: The second leg at the Emirates won't be a walkover; Chelsea showed they can score quickly.
- Consistency is the target: Arsenal need to eliminate those 5-minute lapses in concentration.
The momentum is real. The belief in the dressing room is clearly there. But in this league, the moment you think you’ve made it is the moment you get tripped up. Arsenal escaped Stamford Bridge with the win, but they also left with a few lessons learned the hard way.
To stay updated on the squad's fitness, watch for the official medical update usually released 48 hours before the Forest game. If White is out, expect Jurrien Timber to shift over or Riccardo Calafiori to take on a bigger role in the defensive rotation. Keeping the defensive line stable is priority number one for the trip to the East Midlands.