For Arsenal, the semi-final was an exercise in brute force, the Londoners leaving no stone unturned as they piled on the pressure against Chelsea's makeshift backline. The Gunners' potency was on full display as Ben White headed home from Declan Rice's corner to give them a 24th goal from a set piece this season.
The Blues struggled to cope with Arsenal's intensity, Sánchez, in particular, proving woefully unimpressive. His handling error from White's low cross was a sorry sight, and the goal was a harsh reminder of his erratic form.
Chelsea's response was fueled by Alejandro Garnacho's energetic cameo. The substitute scored a second for Chelsea, and while it seemed to offer hope for Rosenior's side, Arsenal were relentless in their pursuit of another goal.
It was Martín Zubimendi who provided the turning point, unleashing a flash of brilliance that left everyone stunned. His ice-cold finish after Viktor Gyökeres' layoff seemed like a formality after that point.
Despite Chelsea's late resurgence, courtesy of Garnacho's second, Arsenal's lead looked all but secure at halftime. Their performance had been one of dominance, with the Blues struggling to find any sort of rhythm or cohesion in front of goal.
The mood among the home fans turned sour as Garnacho scored for Chelsea, with chants in support of Roman Abramovich – the former owner who sold the club – echoing around Stamford Bridge. It was a concerning sign that Garnacho's goal had the effect it did, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction among supporters with Behdad Eghbali's leadership style.
In the end, Arsenal looked to be one step ahead as they continued their dominance, leaving Chelsea to rue missed opportunities and lamenting the absence of key players like Reece James and Moisés Caicedo.
The Blues struggled to cope with Arsenal's intensity, Sánchez, in particular, proving woefully unimpressive. His handling error from White's low cross was a sorry sight, and the goal was a harsh reminder of his erratic form.
Chelsea's response was fueled by Alejandro Garnacho's energetic cameo. The substitute scored a second for Chelsea, and while it seemed to offer hope for Rosenior's side, Arsenal were relentless in their pursuit of another goal.
It was Martín Zubimendi who provided the turning point, unleashing a flash of brilliance that left everyone stunned. His ice-cold finish after Viktor Gyökeres' layoff seemed like a formality after that point.
Despite Chelsea's late resurgence, courtesy of Garnacho's second, Arsenal's lead looked all but secure at halftime. Their performance had been one of dominance, with the Blues struggling to find any sort of rhythm or cohesion in front of goal.
The mood among the home fans turned sour as Garnacho scored for Chelsea, with chants in support of Roman Abramovich – the former owner who sold the club – echoing around Stamford Bridge. It was a concerning sign that Garnacho's goal had the effect it did, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction among supporters with Behdad Eghbali's leadership style.
In the end, Arsenal looked to be one step ahead as they continued their dominance, leaving Chelsea to rue missed opportunities and lamenting the absence of key players like Reece James and Moisés Caicedo.