Chelsea v Arsenal, Getty Images January 15, 2026, 12:06 AM

Cup clashes at such a high stage as the semi-final always attract a lot of attention from the fans, even if it is the much-hated FA Cup, which is traditionally despised by most fans due to the fact that it takes up space in the teams’ already difficult calendar, but when it comes to games one step closer to the final, then you can at least fight for the opportunity to play at Wembley at least once a year.

Will Chelsea and Arsenal in London have such opportunities during the course of this season? The match at Stamford Bridge, where the new coach of the Blues, Liam Rosenior, hosted such a powerful opponent for the first time in his new status, was to answer this question in part. And this meeting for the coach of the “pensioners” began with a not too happy event from the first minutes, because Robert Sanchez, traditionally for himself, played poorly already during the first corner from the opponents from the left wing and allowed White to lock even Rice into an empty net.

It was easy for Chelsea to lose ground in such circumstances, so before the break the home team’s only advantage was the opportunity created for Estevan’s shot on the right wing of the penalty area, when Kepa almost for the first time should have joined the game properly and saved the team from a close-range shot. In the second half, things were more successful with the home team, but not without nuances.

For Chelsea conceded a second goal almost immediately after the break, again thanks to Sanchez’s misreading of White’s cross from the right to the far post for Yokeres. Arsenal players were able to direct the ball into the empty net quite easily in this game, we noticed that right away. But after this mistake, the coach of the “blues” had to immediately put all his cards on the table, because where to go next?

That’s how imperceptibly Garnacho appeared on the field, who in the end risked becoming the hero of the last minutes for Chelsea. Because it suddenly became clear that the Arsenal players are not too willing to take care of the far posts when passes are coming from the right flank, which the Argentine took advantage of twice. The trouble was that it was necessary to find a third such goal somewhere, because Subimendi, between the goals of the fresh Alejandro, also did a good job in the center of someone else’s penalty area. And with the saving ball, the Rosenior team was not so lucky this time.

Chelsea: Sanchez – Achimpong (Badyachil, 53), Fofana (Gato, 75), Chaloba, Cucurella (Adarabioyo, 81) – Santos, E. Fernandez – Estevan, Juan Pedro (Meuca, 81), Netu – Guyu (Garnacho, 53).