Arsenal have officially booked their place at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final after a pulsating 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 4-2 aggregate win.
While the night ended in celebration, the closing stages were defined by a moment of pure tactical tension that saw Mikel Arteta lose his composure just seconds before the decisive blow was landed.
Mikel Arteta was going ‘mad’ before Kai Havertz winner
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
As Chelsea pushed for a late equaliser to force extra time, the atmosphere in North London reached a fever pitch.
With Arsenal clinging to a narrow lead, the ball appeared to drift out of play during a frantic Chelsea buildup, yet play was allowed to continue.
Former England international Matt Upson, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, reported the frantic energy on the touchline.
“Well, 30 seconds ago Mikel Arteta was going mad that the referee had not blown his whistle.
“It has been a high-pressure last 10 minutes.” Arteta was seen frantically gesturing at the fourth official, convinced his side was being denied a blatant stoppage.
However, that frustration leftin an instant. Arsenal intercepted the resulting play, launching a lightning-fast counter-attack while the Chelsea defense was still over-committed in the final third.
Arsenal likely to face Man City in final Wembley showdown
The win means Arsenal will now face one of Manchester City or Newcastle in the final of the competition.
Their most likely opponents are going to be Pep Guardiola’s side who lead 2-0 on aggregate.
The return fixture is at Etihad where the home side are favourites to beat the defending champions and book the place in the final.
Man City have not been at their usual best this season. In contrast, Arsenal look their strongest self and are full of confidence at the moment, with Arteta doing an incredible job at the club.
Could the League Cup be the first of multiple trophies Arsenal will win this season?
Sandro Tonali is once again emerging as a major talking point ahead of the summer transfer window, with several of the Premier League’s biggest clubs reportedly keeping a close watch on the Newcastle United midfielder’s situation.
According to The Sun, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea have all registered an interest in the Italy international, showing his growing reputation at the top level.
Tonali, 25, has steadily reasserted his value at Newcastle United, becoming a pillar of their midfield along with Bruno Guimaraes.
His performances have not gone unnoticed, particularly by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who is believed to be a long-time admirer.
Arsenal admire Newcastle midfielder Tonali
Reports suggest Arteta views Tonali as an ideal partner for Declan Rice, with the pair potentially forming a balanced and dynamic midfield core capable of competing at the highest level.
Arsenal were even alerted to the possibility of a move on Deadline Day, though the enquiry failed to develop into anything concrete.
Pep Guardiola is understood to be a strong admirer of Tonali’s game intelligence and positional discipline and along with his teammate Tino Livramento, the Spanish manager is keen on bringing the Newcastle duo to the Etihad Stadium.
Sandro Tonali of Newcastle in action vs Man United (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Chelsea, meanwhile, are taking a more cautious approach. The Stamford Bridge club are monitoring Tonali’s situation as part of their midfield review but have yet to make any decisive moves.
Despite the mounting interest, Newcastle remain relaxed. Tonali is viewed as a central figure in the club’s long-term project, and there is no desire to part with him unless an extraordinary offer is presented.
A report from Fichajes has claimed that the Magpies have set an asking price of €80 million for the Italian midfielder.
Football pundit Paul Scholes has described the Newcastle United midfielder as a “brilliant” player.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched figures of the summer transfer window in 2026, with interest growing from across Europe’s elite.
Despite being under contract at Chelsea until 2032, the Argentine’s future is far from straightforward, as sporting ambition, financial reality, and outside interest begin to converge.
Fernández remains a central figure at Stamford Bridge, both in terms of on-pitch influence and long-term planning.
Much of Madrid’s thinking is linked to the long-term outlook surrounding Jude Bellingham.
Should Bellingham move on at the end of the season, a scenario Madrid are not actively planning for but cannot ignore, Fernández is seen as a profile capable of stepping into a leadership role at the Bernabéu.
That said, Madrid’s midfield is currently well stocked, and sources close to the club suggest there is no urgency to act.
Any move would likely depend on significant outgoings, which naturally slows momentum.
Chelsea’s stance remains firm in public. Head coach Liam Rosenior has repeatedly shown his desire to build around Fernández.
Internally, the Argentine is viewed as a reference point for both the present and the future.
Yet Chelsea’s financial obligations mean tough decisions may loom. If the club opt to sell, sources suggest a fee in the region of €100-110 million would be required.
See below for details as Dean also revealed the fee for the player, whose arrival still hasn’t been officially confirmed by the clubs…
I'm told Jaden Dixon will be joining Arsenal from Stoke City for a fee of around £500,000. Chelsea were also interested in signing the 18-year-old England youth international.
“I’m told Jaden Dixon will be joining Arsenal from Stoke City for a fee of around £500,000. Chelsea were also interested in signing the 18-year-old England youth international,” Dean posted.
Arsenal get a late deal done as Chelsea miss out on top prospect
Arsenal fans will surely be pleased with this smart bit of business, with Dixon joining for very cheap despite looking like someone whose value will surely increase a lot in the next few years.
Jaden Dixon in action for Stoke City
The teenager has shown huge potential at Stoke, and it makes sense that this was a deal Chelsea were also really keen on.
The Blues have a policy of recruiting the best young players from English football and elsewhere in the world, and it looks like Dixon could have been a good fit.
Arsenal fans will now hope the Dixon deal can be officially announced soon and that he can go on to make an impact on their first-team before too long.
Even if he most likely won’t be a regular straight away, we have seen Mikel Arteta giving plenty of opportunities to top young players in recent times.
The transfer window is now closed, so we’ve rounded up every single done deal by all 20 Premier League clubs over the last month.
It wasn’t the most memorable January transfer window, but read on for every done deal as there were some major deals done by the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham.
For City, it was a pretty exciting window as Pep Guardiola moved to bring in Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth after his terrific form there in the last year and a half or so.
Meanwhile, Marc Guehi also made the move to the Etihad Stadium to fill the void left by the injured Josko Gvardiol, meaning that long-running saga came to an end a little earlier than expected, with his Crystal Palace contract only a few months away from expiring anyway.
For Arsenal, it was mostly a window of exits, as Ethan Nwaneri joined Marseille on loan, while Oleksandr Zinchenko left for a permanent move to Ajax.
Elsewhere, Conor Gallagher was a big name arrival back to the Premier League, with the former Chelsea midfielder leaving Atletico Madrid after a year and a half to join Tottenham.
Read on for our full list of done deals from this transfer window…
Arsenal
IN
None
OUT
Osman Kamara – Blackburn, undisclosed
Oleksandr Zinchenko – Ajax, undisclosed
Louie Copley – Crawley, loan
Ethan Nwaneri – Marseille, loan
Maldini Kacurri – Grimsby, loan
Aston Villa
Tammy Abraham in action for Aston Villa (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
IN
Tammy Abraham – Besiktas, £18.2m
Alysson – Gremio, £10m
Brian Madjo – Metz, undisclosed
Leon Bailey – Roma, loan recall
Douglas Luiz – Juventus, loan
OUT
Louie Barry – Stockport, loan
Samuel Iling-Junior, Pisa, loan
Ben Broggio – Falkirk, loan
Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba – West Brom, loan
Evann Guessand – Crystal Palace, loan
Aidan Borland – Swindon, loan
Sil Swinkels – Chesterfield, loan
Donyell Malen – Roma, loan with £21.6m obligation to buy
Chelsea have officially announced that Mamadou Sarr has been recalled to the club from his loan at Strasbourg, while Aaron Anselmino has joined the Ligue 1 side.
The Blues recently recalled Anselmino from his loan stint with Borussia Dortmund, and it looked like this could lead to him being involved in their first-team in the second half of the season.
However, Chelsea have now confirmed that the talented young Argentine has instead gone on loan to Strasbourg for the second half of this campaign, replacing Sarr as he’s returned to Stamford Bridge.
See below for the official announcements, which came in quick succession this evening…
Mamadou Sarr has returned to Chelsea from his loan spell at Strasbourg.
Even if some Chelsea fans might be a bit baffled by all this movement, it could end up being smart business by the west London giants to get Sarr playing under Liam Rosenior again.
Rosenior recently replaced Enzo Maresca as CFC manager, having impressed at fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg.
Mamadou Sarr takes a sip of water (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Sarr played under Rosenior and performed well, so that could be a useful option for Chelsea to have in the second half of the season.
It will be interesting to see if the talented 20-year-old goes straight into the Chelsea team, but there’s no doubt Rosenior could do with more options at the back.
There’ll no doubt be fans looking into last minute Arsenal vs Chelsea tickets for tomorrow night’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, but that game is surely going to come too soon for Sarr.
The Senegal international would really be being thrown in at the deep end if he were to be handed his Chelsea debut in such a big game at the Emirates Stadium, but perhaps after that he’ll get a run in the side.
Sandro Tonali’s agent has spoken out on the transfer rumours circulating about his client today as Arsenal and Chelsea are both linked with the Newcastle midfielder.
Tonali has shone during his time at St James’ Park and links with bigger clubs won’t come as too much of a surprise, though Arsenal’s interest did come slightly out of the blue earlier today.
The Italy international’s agent Beppe Riso has now addressed the speculation, denying any talks with Arsenal so far.
The Gunners could do with adding more depth to their midfield, and Tonali is the calibre of player who could surely challenge for a place in Mikel Arteta’s side.
Sandro Tonali transfer situation explained
Sandro Tonali arrives for a Newcastle game (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Still, for now it seems like the Arsenal links have been over-egged slightly, with the player’s agent playing the stories down.
Riso did suggest, however, that this could be something he and his client look at in March.
“We will evaluate in March whether Newcastle are open to anything, but right now he is playing in the Champions League, it is not the right moment to talk about it.”
Chelsea rival Arsenal for Sandro Tonali transfer
Meanwhile, Chelsea are now also being linked with Tonali by the Sun, who also mention Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as being an admirer of the 25-year-old.
It will be interesting to see how this pans out, but Tonali may well find it easier to get more playing time at Chelsea or City than at Arsenal.
Arteta already has Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, whereas Tonali could be an upgrade on the inconsistent Enzo Fernandez at Stamford Bridge, or the ageing and injury-prone Rodri at the Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea winger Tyrique George is reportedly having a medical with Everton ahead of a potential Deadline Day loan with a permanent transfer option.
The 19-year-old attacker has long looked like a big prospect coming through at Stamford Bridge, though he’s struggled to hold down a regular first-team place.
George now looks set to join Everton, with the final touches on the move taking place just hours before tonight’s transfer deadline.
See below for Ben Jacobs’ post on X about George’s medical with the Toffees…
Tyrique George set for an Everton medical ahead of a loan move from Chelsea. Deal includes a buy option.? pic.twitter.com/9wZOHK0OeV
Fabrizio Romano says a verbal agreement is in place between Chelsea and West Ham for the transfer of Axel Disasi.
According to the Italian journalist, West Ham are now just waiting for Disasi’s final answer as a deal looks very close to being finalised.
It remains to be seen, however, if the French central defender will definitely decide to give his personal green light to the move to the London Stadium.
For now, it looks like this deal is mostly done, with Romano reporting that the key next step is Disasi’s answer to West Ham…
??? West Ham are waiting for Axel Disasi’s final answer on the transfer after verbal agreement with Chelsea over loan deal. pic.twitter.com/HDnjQgRjvI
Still, the 27-year-old may well feel that he could do better than West Ham, who are enduring a difficult season and facing a serious fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Hammers are currently in 18th place in the Premier League table, six points behind both Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.
Disasi could become a key player for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side and help them stay up, but it makes sense that he’s perhaps unsure about the risk.
If West Ham do end up going down, Disasi will surely find it harder to find another club when it comes to the end of his loan in the summer.
It would probably look better for Disasi to wait for offers from elsewhere, or perhaps to even stay and fight for his place at Chelsea, even if it seems unlikely to get a look-in unless there’s a major injury crisis.
Chelsea are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of defensive reinforcements, with French outlet L’Équipe claiming the Blues are preparing a €30 million bid for highly rated Nantes centre-back Tylel Tati.
At just 18 years old, Tati has already emerged as one of the most promising young defenders in Ligue 1.
His performances have reportedly convinced Chelsea that he could become a long-term solution in central defense.
Chelsea need defensive addition in this transfer window
Chelsea’s interest comes amid ongoing defensive concerns at Chelsea, where injuries and inconsistency have exposed a lack of depth at the back.
With the club competing across multiple competitions, strengthening the defensive unit has become a priority during the current window.
However, rather than seeking a short-term fix, Chelsea appear focused on investing in elite young talent with high upside.
Tati fits that profile perfectly, athletic, tactically intelligent, and already experienced at senior level in a demanding league.
Chelsea’s plan would see Tati sign permanently before immediately returning to Nantes on loan.
This approach would allow him to continue his development in a stable environment while Chelsea secure his long-term future, a model the club has used frequently in recent seasons.
The proposed move is also tied to Chelsea’s wider squad management. The club are expected to recall Mamadou Sarr from his loan spell at RC Strasbourg, effectively terminating that arrangement.
In a corresponding move, Argentine youngster Aaron Anselmino is set to head to Strasbourg on loan, ensuring Chelsea continue to provide competitive minutes for their emerging defenders.
This internal reshuffle shows Chelsea’s long-term planning under their current recruitment model, which prioritises youth development, asset value, and future squad balance.
Chelsea have cooled their interest in Jérémy Jacquet following a significant shift in circumstances over the past 48 hours, clearing the path for Liverpool to move decisively for the Rennes defender.
The update was provided by well-connected journalist Ben Jacobs, who revealed how quickly the balance of the deal has swung in Liverpool’s favour.
Jacquet has been on the radar of several Premier League clubs after an impressive rise in Stade Rennais colours, but Liverpool’s groundwork has proven decisive.
The Reds are understood to have opened dialogue more than three weeks ago before ramping up negotiations in recent days, pushing to pre-agree terms and move swiftly towards completion.
That decisive approach has now paid off, with Jacquet’s medical scheduled to take place on Monday.
The club were fully aware of Rennes’ valuation and, crucially, did not see personal terms as a stumbling block. However, developments within Chelsea’s own defensive department have altered the equation.
The impending return of Mamadou Sarr from his loan spell at RC Strasbourg has bolstered depth at centre-back, reducing the urgency to recruit externally.
At the same time, Chelsea remain keen to protect the pathway of highly rated academy talent Josh Acheampong, who is viewed internally as a long-term option rather than a player to be blocked by another young signing.
With no appetite to sell Acheampong and a reluctance to overcrowd the position, Chelsea have now stepped away from the deal entirely, allowing Liverpool a clear run.
According to transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano, top clubs are involved in the race to sign Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet.
As things stand, Liverpool and Chelsea are both understood to be in active dialogue with Rennes and the player’s representatives, as they explore the framework of a future transfer rather than an immediate move.
Sources close to the situation indicate that Bayern Munich are currently unlikely to pursue the deal, leaving the contest largely centred on England.
Crucially, Rennes are determined to retain Jacquet until at least July 2026, a stance that has shaped the negotiations.
Rennes are destined to lose Jacquet in the future
The Ligue 1 side view the highly rated centre-back as a core part of their medium-term project and are reluctant to weaken their defensive depth in the short term.
Any agreement reached now would therefore be structured as a delayed transfer, allowing Rennes to continue benefitting from his development while securing long-term financial clarity.
Jacquet has steadily established himself as one of the most promising young defenders in French football.
During the 2025/26 season, he has featured regularly across Ligue 1 and domestic cup competitions, logging significant minutes for a player of his age.
His strengths lie in his positional awareness, aerial timing, and calm distribution under pressure.
Data from Ligue 1 this season places him among Rennes’ most reliable defenders for duel success and progressive passes, showing his growing tactical maturity.
The uncertain future of defender Ibrahima Konate is forcing the Reds to look for a new defender in the market. Not to forget they also lost out on signing of Marc Guehi, who recently joined Manchester City.
The future of Dayot Upamecano is attracting attention as the Bayern Munich defender is set to become a free agent in the summer.
According to TEAMtalk, a host of major sides, including Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Inter, have all held discussions with Upamecano’s camp.
The widespread interest reflects both the player’s standing at the top level and the uncertainty surrounding his contract situation in Munich.
Upamecano’s current deal with Bayern Munich is set to expire in the summer, and while Bayern have tabled a renewal proposal, the club have made it clear that the offer will not remain on the table indefinitely.
Liverpool & Chelsea show interest in Dayot Upamecano
From Bayern’s perspective, the stakes are high. Upamecano has been a regular figure in their back line when fit, trusted in domestic competition and on the European stage.
Losing him on a free transfer would represent a significant financial and sporting blow, particularly at a time when elite centre-backs are commanding premium fees across the market.
For the interested clubs, the appeal is obvious. Premier League sides see Upamecano as a ready-made option with Champions League experience, while Spain and Italy’s giants are alert to the rare chance of landing a proven defender without a transfer fee.
Bayern Munich appear worried about the French defender
Dayot Upamecano in action for Bayern Munich (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Even if Bayern remain confident of reaching an agreement, the sheer volume of interest has understandably raised concerns inside the club.
For Upamecano himself, the coming weeks could define the next phase of his career.
Staying at Bayern would offer continuity and a familiar environment, but the opportunity to test himself in a new league, potentially as a defensive leader, is a tempting proposition.
His decision will also influence Bayern’s wider squad planning, as a failure to secure an extension would force them into the market sooner than anticipated.
As negotiations continue, Bayern’s deadline adds urgency to an already tense situation.
It will be interesting to see if the Blues can close the deal this month. They are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements, and the 20-year-old would be a solid long-term acquisition. He has proven himself to be one of the brightest young defensive prospects in Ligue 1, and he has the quality to thrive in the Premier League as well.
Will Chelsea progress the Jacquet deal today?
Chelsea and Rennes will be in action on Saturday evening, and the Sky Sports reporter has revealed that there could be developments after their respective matches.
He wrote: “Jeremy Jacquet only wants to sign for Chelsea. Personal terms have been fully agreed. Both Chelsea and Rennes are playing on Saturday evening. Expect developments after the games.“
Chelsea will certainly hope to get the deal across the line before the window closes. He would be a long-term acquisition for them.
The Blues need to tighten up at the back if they want to do well during the second half of the campaign. They will be desperate to secure Champions League qualification for the upcoming campaign. They have had multiple injury issues at the back, and players like Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have fallen out of favour. Chelsea will need to replace them, and signing the young Frenchman would be ideal.
The defender has also been linked to clubs like Liverpool, but it seems he is determined to move to London. The development will come as a blow to the Premier League champions and will certainly give Chelsea the encouragement to wrap up the formalities soon.
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