Viktor Gyokeres back on the scoresheet, Arsenal edge Chelsea in 5-goal thriller

Just 3 days after a dominant 5-1 debut victory over Charlton in the FA Cup, Chelsea’s new head coach Liam Rosenior returned to Stamford Bridge for his home debut. Rosenior’s ambition was clear: to deliver a statement victory for the home fans and build a cushion before the daunting return leg in North London. 

Conversely, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal entered the fray with a historic point to prove. The Gunners have not lifted the League Cup since 1993, and having lost their last 4 two-legged semi-final ties, the pressure to break that "curse" was immense.

The tactical battle began even before kick-off as team sheets revealed contrasting fortunes. Chelsea were severely depleted, missing the creative spark of Cole Palmer, the leadership of Reece James, and the midfield steel of the suspended Moises Caicedo. In contrast, Arsenal fielded a formidable lineup.

The match ignited after just 7 minutes with a controversial opener. Declan Rice delivered a precision corner into the six-yard box, where Ben White rose unmarked to head home after Robert Sanchez failed to punch the ball clear. 

A lengthy VAR check followed to determine if Gyokeres was interfering with the goalkeeper from an offside position, but the goal stood. This marked Arsenal’s 24th set-piece goal of the season and their 18th from a corner, the highest tally in Europe’s top 5 leagues.

The atmosphere grew hostile as Jurrien Timber escaped a card for a heavy challenge on Trevoh Chalobah, leading to an exchange of yellow cards for Leandro Trossard and Chelsea’s Estevao Willian. 

Arsenal doubled their lead in the 49th minute when Sanchez committed a glaring blunder, letting a low cross from White slip through his gloves for Gyokeres to tap into an empty net. It was a vital moment for the Swede, marking his first goal from open play in 16 matches.

Rosenior responded by introducing Garnacho, who sparked a Chelsea revival. In the 57th minute, the substitute lashed home a cross from Pedro Neto to make it 2-1. However, Arsenal appeared to extinguish the comeback in the 71st minute when Martin Zubimendi clinically finished a lay-off from Gyokeres. 

The drama peaked in the 83rd minute as Garnacho struck again from a chaotic corner, leaving the final score at 3-2. Arsenal thought they had a late penalty for a foul on Gabriel Jesus, but an offside flag spared Chelsea further damage.

With this result, Arsenal extended their unbeaten run against Chelsea to 9 matches across all competitions, including 7 victories. This win also stretches their current unbeaten streak to 10 games, solidifying their status as favorites to reach the Wembley final on March 22.

However, the tie remains alive. Chelsea will travel to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg on Tuesday, February 3. If Rosenior can welcome back stars like Cole Palmer and Reece James, a comeback is not out of the question. Before that decisive clash, both teams must return to domestic duties. Chelsea face a tough Premier League fixture, clashing Brentford on January 16, while Arsenal face another away trip as they take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on the same day.