Arsenal will have a narrow advantage in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final after a frantic 3-2 first leg win against Chelsea.
Goals from Ben White, Victor Gjokeres and Martin Zubimendi saw the Gunners win at Stamford Bridge, but Alejandro Garnacho scored twice after coming off the bench.
But Arsenal will believe they are on course to reach Wembley and end Mikel Arteta’s record of losing their last four semi-final legs.
Liam Rosenior’s first home game in charge of Chelsea ended in defeat, but he will be hoping for a turnaround in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, which takes place in three weeks’ time on Tuesday, February 3.
Giokeres scores as the Gunners take the lead in the tie
Victor Gjokeres celebrates with his teammates after Arsenal took a 2-0 lead against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg
Rosenior were greeted with warm applause before kick-off, but optimism for a good start faded after seven minutes when White headed in Declan Rice’s trademark corner.
Somewhat contentiously, a brief VAR check for offside ensued, with Giokeres potentially interfering on the line as the ball flew past him. But while it lasted a few minutes to cancel out Antoine Semenho’s goal for Man City in a similar incident in the other semi-final, this was checked and cleared within seconds.
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Jamie Redknapp and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink discuss whether Victor Gjokeres should have been ruled offside for Arsenal’s opener after Antoine Semenya’s disallowed goal against Newcastle
Arsenal then took firm control of the tie in the 49th minute as Giokeres headed in from close range after Robert Sanchez failed to collect Belo’s cross and he spilled into the striker’s path for just his second goal since the start of November.
After the game, he acknowledged criticism in recent weeks that he did not have the right instincts in the box for a striker. “That’s what I need to do,” he said Ski Sports. “I can do it more often.”
Rosenior immediately responded with changes and one of his substitutes, Garnacho, fired Chelsea back into the game after Pedro Neto’s cross fell to his feet at the far post just before the hour mark.
Zubimendi restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage in the 71st minute when he headed in after a good combination with Gjokeres, but Garnacho hit back to give Chelsea hope of a second leg.
Watch all five goals from the Stamford Bridge thriller
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The perfect start for Arsenal as Ben White gets on the end of a Declan Rice corner to give them an early lead at Stamford Bridge.
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Gjokeres pounced on a mistake by the Chelsea goalkeeper to double Arsenal’s advantage
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Alejandro Garnacho scored after being substituted
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Martin Zubimendi scored Arsenal’s third goal against Chelsea
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Garnacho later scored the second goal to give Chelsea hope of a second leg
‘Arsenal will break’
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp:
“The late goal gave a nice tan from Chelsea and Liam Rosenior’s point of view.
“Arsenal are going to crumble. They could be dead and buried. But fair play to Chelsea they stayed there.”