Arsenal need to keep showing plenty of character and work as hard as they did to beat Chelsea if they are to improve, says Jamie Redknapp: 'They've got to hang in there at times'
- Arsenal beat Chelsea in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night
- Arsenal will play Manchester City in the final at Wembley on February 25
- Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp said the Gunners showed plenty of grit and graft
- Redknapp added that it is something Arsenal need to show more of
Arsenal need to show more of a desire to win like they did against Chelsea if they are to move forward, according to Sportsmail columnist Jamie Redknapp.
Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night to reach the final at Wembley next month.
Their first goal came courtesy of a Nacho Monreal that was deflected twice before it beat Willy Cabellero after Eden Hazard had taken the lead for Chelsea. The winner came from Granit Xhaka 30 minutes before time.
Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp praised Arsenal for showing a will to win on Wednesday night
Nacho Monreal (left) celebrates after his header helped bring about Arsenal's equaliser
But asked whether the victory was down to luck, Redknapp, who was working as a pundit on Sky Sports, replied: 'Hard work. Individually and as a club they have been criticised heavily for what happened with Sanchez and the Bournemouth result a few weeks ago.
'I was at the game and I went on record and said it was one of the worst Arsenal performances I'd seen and one of the worst Arsenal teams I'd seen. But what they've done today is show character.'
Redknapp singled Monreal out for praise after another industrious performance from his position at left-back.
Arsene Wenger got an inspired reaction after half-time from his side to secure the win
He said: 'Dennis [Wise] used to do it and people like Monreal coming into the team today was fantastic. He wanted to win.'
He added that he felt Arsene Wenger's side needed to show more of a will to win because they can't always rely on the individual quality of some of their players.
'How many times do you see Arsenal and say "beautiful football" but it's the other side that drives the fans crazy but they wanted to win today,' he said.
'Even in the last few minutes of the game they didn't really suffer that much they dug in, they made blocks and that's not what we associate Arsenal with of late but that's what they've got to do and they've got to hang in there at times.'
Granit Xhaka was the man to complete Arsenal's turnaround in the second half
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