Arsenal finally end semi-final hoodoo, Eberechi Eze misses chance to stake claim for Martin Odegaard’s spot and Mikel Arteta has dilemma for Carabao Cup final, writes ISAAN KHAN

A first shot at silverware for Arsenal already beckons as they booked their spot in the Carabao Cup final. The manner of this victory in the second leg told a separate story, too.

Silverware breeds further silverware is the message that has been trumpeted out by Mikel Arteta this season.

An early trophy scalp in March by way of the Carabao Cup to lay the path for even bigger honours is sound rationale.

This second-leg tie against Chelsea was not a forgone conclusion by any means, even with a goal advantage from the first leg.

The Blues hung in there, in hope of getting that one chance to win the match and equalise the tie on aggregate.

Yet, the north London club gritted their teeth and didn’t wilt under the pressure.

In times gone by, the six minutes of injury time would have caused sheer panic, leading to the opposition finding a way to rescue the match.

That was not the case here, the Gunners instead holding on with real determination.

Each Chelsea wave of attack was batted away with a steeliness that Arteta’s men have lacked in the past — and even at times this season.

It makes this victory feel significant in many ways. Yes, Arsenal are in a first League Cup final since 2018.

And yes, they are favourites to go on and win multiple trophies this season. But it’s the manner they got over the line in this second leg which matters just as much.

Instead of accepting being a punching bag in the dying minutes, through the imperious Declan Rice Arsenal mounted an attack of their own to kill the game off.

Even the crowd weren’t as nervy as they’ve been in recent weeks, with Arteta full of praise for them.

He said: ‘I think the crowd was brilliant today. They brought so much energy and belief to the team in different moments.

Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba were rock solid at the back and a trophy beckons

‘It wasn’t easy today because it was a late kick-off, windy, rainy, cold and they responded. The energy was very good from the beginning. I sensed it was different and they are on board.’

Before this two-legged match, the Gunners had not won any of their previous four semi-final ties.

That semi-final hoodoo is now over, with Arteta one step closer to a first trophy in six years. It’s been a long time coming.

Arteta’s keeper dilemma 

The long, scarred history Kepa Arrizabalaga has with the Carabao Cup could now have a happy ending.

He was not without his blemishes on Tuesday night despite keeping a clean-sheet to get Arsenal to the final.

His passing to the backline was shaky, putting his defenders under pressure from the Chelsea press.

It added an element of fright which was not needed in a pressured semi-final.

To his credit, though, he was assured when dealing with aerial balls and kept alert when required.

It remains to be seen whether Mikel Arteta will pick Kepa Arrizabalaga in the final 

It remains to be seen whether Arteta sticks by Kepa for the final, or goes for his undisputed No1 in David Raya.

Arteta has a decision on his hands: go with continuity and keep his No 2 happy, or go for his best keeper which would then potentially alienate Kepa who has his own ambitions.

It’s an intriguing one but if he opts for Kepa, the Spaniard can finally erase the scars of 2020 when he refused to be substituted off when playing for Chelsea in their shoot-out defeat to Manchester City.

Eze audition falls flat 

Martin Odegaard’s omission from the squad had raised eyebrows having been dropped to the bench against Leeds on Saturday.

It soon transpired that his absence this time was because of a minor muscle issue.

After some lacklustre displays, his place on the bench for the Leeds victory seemed warranted.

Eberechi failed to seize his opportunity in the side and much of the game passed him by 

Yet, Eberechi Eze’s limited showing on Tuesday night further opens the door for the club captain once he’s fit.

It’s nights like these which Eze needs to take on a rare start in a team with such depth.

Instead, the attacker went anonymous in large swathes of the match and struggled to make an impact when he got on the ball.

He needs to do better when given the chance as they will be limited from here on in.