If you walked out of Stamford Bridge last night thinking the tie was over, you weren't watching the same game as the rest of us.
Look. Arsenal won. That's the headline. A 3-2 victory in a first-leg semi-final is a massive result for Mikel Arteta, especially with the second leg happening at the Emirates. But if you're looking for the real story of Chelsea v Arsenal today, it’s not about the Gunners’ clinical efficiency. It’s about the chaos Alejandro Garnacho injected into a match that was practically dead and buried.
Arsenal were cruising. Ben White (who seems to love scoring against Chelsea lately) nodded one in after just seven minutes. Then Viktor Gyökeres, finally breaking a goal drought that felt like it lasted an eternity, prodded home a second just after the break.
At 2-0, the Bridge was silent. It felt like another one of those nights where Chelsea’s "project" looked more like a construction site with no foreman.
The Garnacho Factor
Then Liam Rosenior—who’s only just gotten his feet under the desk as Chelsea head coach—pulled the trigger. He brought on Garnacho in the 52nd minute.
Five minutes later, the net was bulging.
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Garnacho is becoming the ultimate "break glass in case of emergency" player for the Blues. His first goal was a classic back-post ghosting run, meeting a Pedro Neto cross that Robert Sánchez’s previous blunders had almost made us forget was possible. Even when Martin Zubimendi danced through the defense to make it 3-1 for Arsenal—a goal that really showed why Arteta fought so hard to get him—Garnacho wasn't finished.
His second goal in the 83rd minute was pure instinct. A loose ball, a crowded box, and a half-volley that skipped off the turf and past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Yes, Kepa was in goal for Arsenal. That’s the kind of timeline we’re living in.
Breaking Down the Numbers (The Ones That Actually Matter)
Forget the possession stats for a second. Arsenal had 17 shots to Chelsea’s 10. They won the xG battle 2.68 to 0.65. By all logical accounts, the Gunners should have walked away with a three-goal cushion.
But football isn't logical.
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- Ben White's Set-Piece Dominance: Arsenal have now scored 24 goals from set-pieces this season. White’s opener was a carbon copy of the drills they run at London Colney.
- The Kepa Return: Watching Kepa get booed by his former supporters every time he touched the ball added a layer of spice to an already boiling derby. He wasn't bad, but he couldn't stop the Garnacho hurricane.
- Gyökeres is Back: Before last night, he hadn't scored a non-penalty goal in 74 days. That weight off his shoulders is dangerous for every other team in the Premier League.
Honestly, Chelsea’s defense looked like a group of strangers for most of the first half. Josh Acheampong and Wesley Fofana struggled with Arsenal's rotations. When Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are swapping wings every five minutes, you need a level of communication that Chelsea just hasn't developed yet under Rosenior.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Result
The common narrative today is that Arsenal have one foot in the final.
I'm not so sure.
The "away goals rule" is a ghost of the past, so a one-goal deficit is basically nothing in a modern two-legged tie. Chelsea showed they can hurt this Arsenal backline when they stop overthinking and just play direct. Estêvão, the Brazilian wonderkid, was a constant thorn in Jurrien Timber’s side, even if he didn't get the goal his play deserved.
Chelsea are missing half a dozen starters. Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, and Reece James are all out. If even one of those returns for the second leg on February 4, the dynamic shifts completely.
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Arsenal are the better team right now. They lead the Premier League for a reason. But they let a wounded Chelsea stay in the fight, and in a cup semi-final, that’s usually when things get weird.
Tactical Shifts to Watch for the Second Leg
Mikel Arteta is a perfectionist. He’ll be fuming about those two conceded goals. Expect Arsenal to tighten up the midfield transition, likely using Mikel Merino more heavily from the start to provide the physical presence Enzo Fernández and Andrey Santos struggled to bypass late in the game.
For Chelsea, it’s all about the wings. If they can get Pedro Neto and Garnacho on the pitch at the same time from the start, they might actually force Arsenal onto the back foot.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Injury Reports: Keep a close eye on Cole Palmer’s recovery timeline; his presence is the difference between Chelsea being "scrappy" and being "deadly."
- Emirates Record: Arsenal have won 13 of their 16 home games this season. Chelsea need to do what literally no one else has done in 2025/26—win at the Emirates—to progress.
- Check the League Form: Both teams return to Premier League action this weekend. Arsenal head to Nottingham Forest, while Chelsea host Brentford. Momentum is everything in the January slog.
The 3-2 scoreline makes for a brilliant "Part Two" in February. Arsenal have the lead, but Chelsea have the momentum of that late fightback.
Don't write the Blues off just yet.