Arsenal vs. Chelsea, League Cup semifinal 2nd leg: Half-time report

Outside of a three-minute spell, Chelsea have dominated Arsenal on their home turf ... and yet the scoreboard reads 1-1 and that’s frustrating.

Arsenal turned that three-minute spell into an equalizer, and while the goal itself was a bit BS, with a double deflection off Alonso and Rudiger (the latter getting credited with the own goal), Chelsea’s defending was far from stellar as well.

Chelsea had taken the lead through Hazard finishing off a great throughball from Pedro, who also had the ball in the back of the net but was rightly called for offside. (VAR is being used, and with better communication to both the fans in the stadium and at home, but it wasn’t needed for that call.)

After Arsenal’s equalizer, Chelsea went back on the front foot, but we’ve yet find a second breakthrough despite some wonderful play overall. Willian’s injury on the half-hour interrupted some of the flow, with Ross Barkley not quite getting into the swing of things yet. His foul on Koscielny and his turnover in the final minute of added-on time created Arsenal’s two best chances of the half. In fairness, Barkley was also on the receiving end of a shocking high challenge from Wilshere that was only rewarded with a yellow. Also, it’s his first ever appearance for Chelsea.

So, it’s 1-1, with Chelsea dominating. Of course, the scoreboard is all that counts.

As it stands, Chelsea would advance to the final if the game went into extra-time as away goals only count during bonus football. But Arsenal are there for the taking and there are goals to be had. Chances are, there will be a winner found in regulation.

Let’s go!