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It doesn’t matter how they go in, a goal is a goal. And how badly Viktor Gyokeres needed his on Wednesday night, benefiting from a poor Robert Sanchez error to slide the ball home.
He also nabbed an assist for Martin Zubimendi to round off a night where he didn’t necessarily have his best game, but walked away with a noted contribution.
The Swede’s movement and desire to pull defenders out of position early on showed his intent.
When he did get on the ball, Gyokeres looked clunky and lacking in confidence.
It seemed as though it could again be another one of those nights where Gyokeres’ shortcomings at this top level would be exposed.
Instead, Sanchez’s howler gifted the striker with a simple goal which he had to score – and did.
Viktor Gyokeres bagged a much-needed goal in Arsenal’s semi-final first leg win
He will need to keep it up with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus snapping at his heels
From there, he wanted the ball more and played a simple pass for Zubimendi to score from.
When asked about whether Gyokeres’ display was down to his insistence over time, Arteta said: ‘Yes, for a lot of the things that he’s done, it’s exactly the same.
‘I think he had a really good performance. Overall, I think what he brings to the team it’s a lot.
‘Sometimes I understand that people cannot appreciate it, we certainly do and on top of that he got rewarded with a goal.’
Arteta will hope this performance can give Gyokeres the impotence to kick on from here and put together a string of goals.
It is about time, with the season past it’s halfway mark, and the signs showed a willingness to make the difference.
If he can’t, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus will be champing at the bit to leave him behind.
ARTETA PULLING NO PUNCHES IN THE CUP
A mere glance at the Arsenal starting line-up reflected just how seriously Mikel Arteta is taking this competition.
Bar Kepa Arizzabalaga in net, the line-up resembled his typical first XI.
The Spaniard’s press conference messages from the past two seasons around the fringe cup competitions have centred on how winning a trophy, any trophy, can bring further silverware.
You can see that rationale with the Carabao Cup, the final on March 22. Lifting it two months before the Premier League’s final weekend would inject belief — and a reminder to this team of what it’s like to win a final.
Their last trophy dates back to the Gunners’ FA Cup scalp 2020. That isn’t good enough for a club who have lofty ambitions and are now in contention for all the competitions they are in.
This was Arsenal’s first semi-final tie victory at the ninth time of trying. How they use this going forward will show if they have learnt from their 4-0 aggregate defeat to Newcastle last season in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and whether the Gunners are ready to fill their trophy cabinet this time around.
Mikel Arteta went strong at Stamford Bridge and has made his intentions clear
GUNNERS UNSTOPPABLE AT SET PIECES
Try stop Arsenal scoring from a set piece at your peril.
Ben White’s goal was the 24th via the method this season, which is the most by any team in Europe’s top five leagues.
Every opponent is aware of the Gunners’ threat from the ploy — but still can’t stop them from scoring.
This one in particular was a gift for White, the ball landing to him unmarked because of Chelsea’s focus in the area on Arsenal’s more threatening players like Gabriel.
You assume the north London club’s task to score from set pieces would get harder over time because of the preparation teams will be putting in to stop them.
But no. They consistently find a way. So, it’s not a fluke or luck, but genius from set-piece guru Nicolas Jover and sheer practice.
The credit is theirs.
