Arteta reflects on Arsenal’s Carabao Cup win against “impressive” Chelsea | OneFootball

Goals from Ben White, Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Zubimendi sealed an important victory for Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea – but Mikel Arteta felt that the Gunners should have left Stamford Bridge with a bigger advantage.

Gyökeres had doubled Arsenal’s lead mere minutes into the second half, with Alejandro Garnacho halving the deficit for Liam Rosenior’s side just before the hour mark. Zubimendi’s strike in the 71st minute looked to kickstart a period of Arsenal dominance, though it would be Chelsea who struck gold next when Garnacho completed his brace.

“We had the feeling at the end, after the 1-3 and the very dominant period that we had in that time, that we had two massive chances to score the fourth,” Arteta told the media after the match.

“The result would have been very different,” he proposed, “so that feeling is not perfect, but as well we have to value what the team has done again.”

The sides will meet again at the Emirates Stadium in early February, with the winner of the two-legged semi-final progressing to face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final.

Before then, though, Arsenal have a congested fixture list that sees them take on Nottingham Forest, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Kairat Almaty and Leeds United. The Gunners currently top the table in both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, and Arteta expressed that victory at Stamford Bridge could be “really good” for his side’s momentum.

“It’s a really tough place to come. They’re a top side, and when you watch them live as well [with] the quality that they have, how they open you up in a second with the quality that they have, it’s impressive.”

“That’s why I really value what the team has done,” the Spaniard concluded.