Arteta Hails Perfect Ending as Arsenal Secure Final Return

- by Olatunji Johnson

Manager’s Faith Rewarded by Havertz’s Dramatic Winner in Gritty Semi-Final Triumph Over Chelsea

Mikel Arteta praised his Arsenal side for delivering “a perfect ending” to a tense semi-final battle, after Kai Havertz’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic 1-0 victory over Chelsea and booked the club’s first Carabao Cup Final berth in eight years.

The manager watched his team grind through a nervy, rain-soaked evening at the Emirates Stadium, finally breaking Chelsea’s stubborn resistance in the dying seconds. Substitute Havertz was the hero, coolly rounding goalkeeper Robert Sánchez to confirm a 4-2 aggregate win and send Arsenal to Wembley.

“It was exactly the type of challenge we expected,” Arteta said, reflecting on a match where chances were scarce. “The conditions, the intensity, the tension of a semi-final. To find that moment at the end, that’s a perfect ending for us.”

For Arteta, the significance of the win extends far beyond one night. He emphasized the profound psychological boost it gives a squad also fighting for the Premier League title and competing in Europe. “It builds belief,” he noted, highlighting the importance of momentum during the decisive final months of the season.

The triumph was a testament to the resilience he has instilled. Despite missing key players and facing a Chelsea side set up to frustrate, Arsenal held their nerve. Even after Chelsea introduced attackers Cole Palmer and Estevão in search of a lifeline, the Gunners’ discipline never wavered, setting the stage for Havertz’s late heroics on the counter.

Arsenal now await the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between Manchester City and Newcastle United. For Arteta, the final represents more than a chance to lift a trophy—it is validation of a project built on grit and growing belief, culminating in a hard-fought return to a stage the club has longed to see again.

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