Arsenal Player Ratings: Gunners beat Chelsea to reach Carabao Cup final 

Kai Havertz's late goal breaks Chelsea hearts to send the glorious Gunners through to the 2026 Carabao Cup final

Here's View From The Armchair with his verdict after Arsenal made it to Wembley Stadium  

Kepa just Kepa: 8/10 - massive 90 minutes against his old club, biggest game of the season so far for me, fantastic save from Fernandez before half time that was coming with some fizz on it. A clean sheet and a trip to Wembley sealed. Lovely

Jurrien Timber: 8/10 - solid defensively in his usual right-back spot to help the backline to a memorable shutout

William Saliba: 8/10 - escaped a VAR check at the start of the second half for a penalty when wrestling with Joao Pedro

Gabriel: 8/10 - looking unsure whether to stick or twist in the opening phase, understandably so. Went close with a far post header, but ultimately did his job well in a rearguard defensive display. George Graham would have been pleased with.

Piero Hincapie: 8.5/10 - curled one from range on 18 minutes that tested Robert Sanchez. Tenacious in the tackle tonight so much so he wins my POTM award despite being vastly underrated. 

Martin Zubimendi: 8/10 - had little to do in a strange old first half of football, which, given the occasion was strangely subdued. Got his the reward in the second half as super half price Rice's swinging ball fell into Havertz’s path for the winner. Wembley it is for our signing of the season.

Declan Rice: 8/10 - needed a leaders performance tonight in this game, make no mistake about it. And we got it as he delivered to provide the assist for Havertz's winner in a super late breakaway attack that shattered Chelsea hearts.

Noni Madueke: 6/10 - largely quiet in an unproductive first half, hoped for more more from him in the second as I made the switch to ITV to avoid the simply unbearable Gary Neville on Sky. Not the best outing we will ever see from him tonight I can’t lie but wonderful to see the former Chelsea man celebrating victory over his former side with two other ex Blues, now firmly Gooners.

Ebere Eze: 7/10 - very happy to see him getting some minutes and a chance to shine but had very quiet first half, much of the same in the second half, I won’t be bothered about the inquest into his display and neither will he as we book our place in the final. Even if Arteta might...

Gabriel Martinelli: 8/10 - lively early on, did a good job of springing Chelsea’s offside trap on more than one occasion, made the switch over to the right as Trossard got onto the pitch, don’t recall seeing him out on the right before?

Viktor Gyokeres: 6/10 - workmanlike performance tonight, did more shutting down than Alan Sugar has done with his failed enterprises, got warm applause after being replaced on 68 minutes. But one day we will need to talk about Viktor. But with Arsenal challenging on four fronts now is not the time.

Substitutes:

Kai Havertz: 8/10 - makes it onto the pitch on 68 minutes - and on 97 minutes the former Chelsea man sealed the deal in a breakaway attack that lit up the ground when making 1-0 to the Arsenal.

Leo Trossard: 8/10 - beautiful scenes at the end as we booked our place at Wembley, and was probably a good time to switch back to Sky to listen to Gary Neville sucking it up on some sour grapes, Ave it, COYG! With Wembley now on the horizon, fans are already weighing what comes next as Carabao Cup markets on Stake adjust ahead of the final