Perhaps offering a sign of how much was at stake, there were nervy moments from both teams in the early stages, as Robert Sánchez had to deal with two underhit backpasses before Liam Delap fired wide from a William Saliba error.
There was also a caginess to proceedings and battles across the pitch, with Marc Cucurella involved in the most notable of those, before Piero Hincapié brought an eye-catching save out of Sánchez with a curling effort in the 18th minute.
There were also some slips as rain fell at the Emirates Stadium, while Trevoh Chalobah tried to hit what could have been a spectacular shot from range, but instead scuffed the ball harmlessly wide.
Gabriel Martinelli then threatened to get behind Chelsea’s backline shortly after the half-hour mark, although Malo Gusto was persistent enough to equal the Brazilian and block his shot.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was then given his first test in the 43rd minute, convincingly palming away Enzo Fernández’s ambitious strike.
Chelsea showed added intent after the restart as they aimed to level up the tie, with João Pedro seeing his shot deflected behind before Eberechi Eze rushed out to block a Jorrel Hato attempt.
Liam Rosenior reflected that by introducing Cole Palmer and Estêvão on the hour mark, which was soon followed by Cucurella and Fernández each curling efforts off-target from outside the box.
Mikel Arteta made an attacking double change of his own in the 69th minute, but the Gunners’ best chance fell to Gabriel Magalhães, whose header from Martín Zubimendi’s cross was blocked by Cucurella.
Chalobah then hit a speculative volley that was deflected behind before Wesley Fofana flicked the ball wide from the ensuing corner.
In the final seconds of stoppage time, with the Blues desperately pushing forward, Declan Rice raced up the pitch and found substitute Kai Havertz, who rounded Sánchez and slid in Arsenal’s winner on the night, ensuring the Gunners reached their first cup final since lifting the FA Cup in 2020.
The two legs of this semi-final are the only games Rosenior has lost in charge of Chelsea, whose wait to win this competition for the first time since 2015 continues.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
