Arsenal booked their place in the Carabao Cup final on Tuesday night, edging past Chelsea on aggregate after a tense and largely scrappy second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
It was not a performance that flowed, nor a night filled with chances. Instead, it was about control, patience, and one late moment that changed everything.
With a 3-2 advantage from the first leg, Arsenal knew they did not need to chase the game. Chelsea, setting up with a back five, made life awkward and kept chances to a minimum.
A double change from Mikel Arteta shifted the momentum late on. One of those introductions was Kai Havertz, who is a familiar face to Chelsea supporters.
The former Chelsea man, who once scored the winning goal in the Champions League final for the Blues in 2021, delivered the decisive blow in stoppage time.
Now, watching from afar, the former Chelsea captain John Terry felt the reaction went too far. In his view, Arsenal’s celebrations said less about progress and more about pressure.
Speaking on social media, John Terry argued that the occasion did not warrant the outpouring of emotion. He said:
“For me, they celebrated far too much. Let’s not forget, it’s the Carabao Cup. It’s not the Champions League final.”
There is no denying the context. Arsenal are chasing their first major trophy since 2020.
The Gunners sit at the top of the Premier League with a six-point lead over Manchester City, the team they will face in the Carabao Cup final.
John Terry has hit out at Arsenal for ‘celebrating too much’ after the north London side beat Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final to book their spot for a tilt at the trophy at Wembley next month.
The former Blues captain was previously mocked by Arsenal… pic.twitter.com/VkMOpa7EHj
— Daily Mail Sport (@MailSport) February 8, 2026
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