Arsenal began life after Alexis Sanchez with a comeback victory over London rivals Chelsea to reach their first League Cup final in seven years.
Following a goalless first leg at Stamford Bridge, this instalment of the semi-final was more akin to the lively Premier League meeting here just 21 days ago and it was Granit Xhaka's second half strike which set up a Wembley meeting with Manchester City on February 25.
Eden Hazard put the Blues into an early lead only for Arsenal to level through an Antonio Rudiger own goal before Xhaka settled the tie on the hour mark to seal a 2-1 win.
The Gunners were without Henrikh Mkhitaryan, their new signing watching from the stands as he is cup-tied having played in the competition for Manchester United before completing his swap deal with Sanchez on Monday night.
Here is how the match unfolded live...
Conte on his disappointing defeat
There is big disappointment. When you arrive at this point you want to reach the final.
We had a good run, we had a great will to play at Wembley.
We started well, scored, but conceded two strange goals. We were unlucky in circumstances.
Wenger's post-match reaction
I felt that in the first half there were tactical reasons for not expressing the quality of our game, we rectified that at half time. In the second half we won the ball high up and controlled the game.
It’s a great satisfying night for us. We managed to beat a strong team. In January we paid a heavy price for uncertainty in the dressing room - now we are back.
Chelsea player ratings by Oliver Harbord of Football.London
Willy Caballero
Could do nothing about the opening two goals where really he was let down by his defence and both efforts were from close range. Didn’t really have many problems with crosses from the match and made a superb stop to deny Alex Iwobi. 6
Cesar Azpilicueta
Maybe was caught a bit cold for Xhaka’s goal, but could have been more that Bakayoko let him go. A couple of nice crosses in, but not the most dominating performance that he has had. 5
Andreas Christensen
Did pretty well during the night, however would have been disappointed to let Alexandre Lacazette get the ball in for the second goal. Was given a little run around by the striker, although he couldn’t get the goal. 5
Antonio Rudiger
He got a goal and an assist tonight, but unfortunately for the wrong team. Couldn’t really do much for either as the ball cannoned off him, however not a great night for the German international. 4
Victor Moses
Started the game brightly and looked to get down the right wing well. However, drastically faded as the match went on and picked up a yellow card for a pretty horrible challenge on Alex Iwobi. 5
Marcos Alonso
Grew into the game as it went on, but even though he saw more of the ball he never really did a great amount with it. A dreadful free-kick summed up his night. 5
Tiemoue Bakayoko
Was probably his strongest game for a while and was good defensively and with the ball. Made some nice passes out to the wings and tried to prevent the Gunners from really getting forward. 7
N’Golo Kante
Again not his most dominant game, which has been the case in the last couple of matches. Looked a little frustrated out there. 5
Willian
As been in really good form recently and started brightly. Real shame to see him hobble off though with a suspecting hamstring problem. 5
Eden Hazard
The only one to really show that sort of spark to get Chelsea back into the game and took his goal really well. However, the burden was too much on his shoulders and he couldn’t carry Chelsea through. 7
Pedro
Looked bright at first and had the ball in the back of the net, but was offside when really he should have kept himself in line of the defence. Really faded in the second half and no surprise when he was subbed off. 5
Substitutes
Ross Barkley
Was given a welcome back on his debut with a late challenge from Jack Wilshere, and certainly looked a little rusty at first. Got into the game more as it went on, but looked way off match fitness. 6
Michy Batshuayi
Didn’t do enough to affect the game. 5
Davide Zappacosta
Didn’t provide much else down the right. 5
Arsenal player ratings by Charles Watts of Football.London
David Ospina
Couple of nervy moments in the first half and could possibly have done better with Hazard’s goal. Didn’t look comfortable all night. 6
Hector Bellerin
Couldn’t really get into the game down the right in the first half, had more joy after the interval when Arsenal switched to a back three. 6
Laurent Koscielny
Caught horribly flat-footed in the build-up to Hazard’s goal. Given a really tough time early on but improved as the game wore on and was superb after the interval. 8
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Shkodran Mustafi
Dragged out of position far too easily during an awful start to the game by Arsenal. Improved as the game wore on but never looked comfortable against Hazard. 7
Nacho Monreal
Another day, another Monreal assist. The Spaniard just keeps popping up with crucial moments in games this season. Arsenal’s best defender on the night, but did collect a booking. 8
Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka scores Arsenal’s second goal(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Kept popping up in strangely advanced positions all night and got his reward with the second goal. Really smart finish from the Swiss international. 7
Mohamed Elneny
Really impressive performance from Elneny, backing up his good display against Palace. He was a steadying influence in midfield in the first half and helped tighten things up after the interval when he dropped back into defence. 8
Jack Wilshere
As industrious as ever, Wilshere was on the periphery of things in the first half but was a real driving force in the second. Helped Arsenal control the final 45 minutes. 7
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Alex Iwobi
Not as spectacular as his performance against Palace, but this was another good showing from Iwobi. Gave the ball away horribly in the first few minutes but recovered well and was an outlet all night for Arsenal. 7
Mesut Ozil
Took the game to Chelsea after the interval. He ran at them, held onto the ball and released the pressure. Played like a real leader. Impressive again. 8
Alexandre Lacazette
Brilliant hold up play for Xhaka’s goal. Was isolated at times, especially in the first half, but worked tirelessly in the channels to provide an outlet. 7
SUBS
Aaron Ramsey
Introduced late on to bring some fresh legs to midfield. Didn’t really make an impact. 5
Sead Kolasinac
Brought on at the same time as Ramsey, again made no impact on the contest. 5
5 talking points
Granit Xhaka rocked Chelsea with the winner as Arsenal set up a Carabao Cup meeting with Manchester City.
The Gunners’ Swiss midfielder prodded home a 60th-minute winner from close range to send his side into the February 25 showpiece at Wembley.
Eden Hazard had earlier given Antonio Conte’s side the lead with a seventh-minute opener. Arsenal levelled when Antonio Rudiger turned Nacho Monreal’s effort into his own net.
The victory continues Arsene Wenger’s impressive record against Conte’s defending Premier League champions.
Since their Stamford Bridge victory last February, Chelsea have failed to win any of their last five against the Gunners, including the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
Goal! Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (Xhaka)
Goal! Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea (Rudiger own-goal)
Comical equaliser as Monreal’s header takes a double deflection.
It eventually goes in off Rudiger.
Fortunate equaliser for the Gunners but the space for Monreal was criminal at the corner.
Almost an equaliser as Wilshere stretches for the ball at a tight angle.
Caballero doesn’t gather but it’s eventually swatted away.
The Argentinian is down injured now.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea (Hazard)
A gorgeous finish from Hazard.
He’s sent through on goal and nudges it beyond Ospina.
Thoroughly deserved for the visitors. Arsenal have not started yet.
It’s in the back of the net as Pedro buries a brilliant header.
He’s just offside though to cut short the celebrations.
All Chelsea so far...
Early joy for Moses down the right for Chelsea.
He swings and misses from range as a corner is not cleared properly.
Chelsea brightest early on.
VAR will be in use tonight at the Emirates. Fans have been given this quick explainer - though they won’t have a clue what’s going on until they’re told by the referee should it be used.
Roma chief shoots down Chelsea offer for Edin Dzeko as "not interesting" as striker lines up at Sampdoria
Roma’s director of football Monchi has shot down Chelsea’s offer for striker Edin Dzeko.
Monchi called the Premier League club’s bid as “not interesting” as the former Manchester City forward lined up for their Serie A clash at Sampdoria.
But Antonio Conte, whose Chelsea face Arsenal tonight in the Carabao Cup, has been dealt another transfer blow after a string of failed attempts to bring in attacking reinforcements.
A deal for Dzeko was reported to be imminent but that’s not the case according to Monchi.
“Roma, like every club in the world, listen to the offers that arrive for their players, not just for Edin, but anyone in the squad,” the director of sport told Mediaset Premium (via Football Italia).
“We are ready to listen and then we decide. Now Dzeko is here and the rest doesn’t matter, which means the offer that arrived is not interesting.
Who will emerge as a hero tonight?
This fan will be hoping Marcos Alonso can find his scoring touch against Arsenal once again.
Kick-off is now minutes away.
Arsene Wenger gives update on Arsenal's pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal are “not close” to signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund.
The Gunners have seen a £45m approach turned down by the Germans as they look for a boost to end the window following Alexis Sanchez’s departure to Manchester United.
The Gunners have already landed Henrikh Mkhitaryan in a straight-swap for the Chilean and may need to match Dortmund’s £60m valuation to sign Aubameyang too.
“Confident or not confident, I don’t know,” Wenger admitted. “At the moment, we have done - we are not close to any deal with Aubameyang or anybody else.”
Micky making himself at home
Christensen on tonight's game
All the games we play now are exciting. We’ll go for the win.
It’s important for our confidence [to have scored so many vs Brighton after a recent drought].
Wilshere on tonight's game
We played well on Satufday, we’ll need more of that.
We need to move it quickly in their half.
It would be good [to reach the final] and win the trophy, that’s what we’re trying to do.
Arsenal team news
Big news for Arsenal is that Mesut Ozil starts.
The German’s craft will be a huge boost for the Gunners.
Arsenal XI: Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Elneny, Xhaka, Wilshere; Ozil, Iwobi, Lacazette
Arsenal bench: Macey, Chambers, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Nelson, Nketiah
Chelsea team news
A blow for Antonio Conte: Thibaut Courtois, Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata are all out injured.
Michy Batshuayi is also absent, despite Morata’s injury, with Willian, Pedro and Hazard up top.
Chelsea XI: Caballero; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Bakayoko, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Hazard, Pedro.
Chelsea bench: Eduardo, Cahill, David Luiz, Zappacosta, Drinkwater, Barkley, Batshuayi
The Gunners’ matchday programme puts the Armenian front and centre as well.
Arsenal have welcomed their new arrival at the Emirates.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan will get his first taste of his new home as a fan tonight since he’s ineligible to play.