Arsenal on Wednesday scored two goals off errors by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to set up a 3-2 win against Chelsea in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.
A corner sailed over Sanchez in the seventh minute, allowing Ben White to head into an unguarded net, before the Spanish goalkeeper let a low cross squirm through his grasp to gift Viktor Gyokeres a tap-in in the 49th minute.
Substitute Alejandro Garnacho pulled a goal back, but Martin Zubimendi restored Arsenal’s two-goal cushion by slotting home a finish in the 70th minute.
Photo: Reuters
Garnacho’s second goal — in the 83rd minute — gave Chelsea a lifeline ahead of the second leg on Feb. 3 at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Still, Mikel Arteta’s team are the favorites to advance to the March 22 final at Wembley Stadium in what is shaping up to be a banner season for the Gunners, who lead the Premier League by six points and top the UEFA Champions League standings.
Liam Rosenior, taking charge of his first home match as Chelsea’s new coach, refused to criticize Sanchez for his mistakes.
Photo: AFP
“I said to him before the game and I made this really clear — when my players make mistakes, I’m accountable. That’s on me,” Rosenior said. “I’ll stay positive with him, as I will all the group. My job is to help them, not to blame them.”
In the other semi-final, Manchester City won 2-0 against Newcastle United in the first leg on Tuesday. Their second match is scheduled for Feb. 4.
It means the most likely title match is City versus Arsenal, the top two in the league. That would be a rematch of the 2018 final — the last one Arsenal reached in the EFL Cup — which City won 3-0.
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