Sports
Arsenal Beat Chelsea To Reach League Cup Final
Arsenal reached the League Cup final for the first time in eight years as Kai Havertz sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the semi-final second leg on Tuesday.
Mikel Arteta’s side had put themselves in pole position in the first leg and Havertz came off the bench to finish the job in the closing moments at the Emirates Stadium.
It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals in the 2025 Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 Europa League.
In their first final for six years, Arsenal will face Manchester City or Newcastle at Wembley on March 22.
City hold a 2-0 lead over Newcastle ahead of Wednesday’s second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal haven’t won the League Cup since 1993, losing in their last three final appearances.
Now they have the chance to end that drought by winning the club’s first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.
That remains the sole silverware won by Arteta since he was hired in December 2019.
It is shaping up to be a memorable season for Arsenal, who are six points clear at the top of the Premier League and reached the Champions League last 16 by winning all eight of their group matches.
Despite their success, Arsenal have attracted criticism for their reliance on goals from corners and set-pieces.
Arteta launched a passionate defence of Arsenal’s style of play this week, revealing he has a “massive book of people” who feel his side are the “most exciting in Europe”.
Tuesday’s war of attrition will hardly silence Arsenal’s critics, but Arteta won’t care about that after leading his team to Wembley.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior had won six of his seven matches in all competitions since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca.
But Rosenior was unable to solve his Arsenal conundrum, with the Gunners handing him the only two defeats of his brief reign.
Knockout blow
Without captain Martin Odegaard, sidelined by a muscle problem, and winger Bukayo Saka, who was injured in the pre-match warm-up at Leeds on Saturday, Arsenal weren’t at their best but still ground out the win.
Rosenior left England forward Cole Palmer on the bench as he switched to a three-man central defence for the first time in his reign.
Rosenior’s tactics allowed Chelsea to stifle Arsenal in a scrappy first half.
The Gunners briefly shook off their shackles as Piero Hincapie’s curler from just inside the area was palmed away by Robert Sanchez.
It rained so heavily in the first half that Rosenior had to take off his soaked glasses to see what was happening.
Squinting through the squall offered Rosenior an alarming view as Malo Gusto’s misjudgement let in Gabriel Martinelli before the Chelsea defender scrambled back to block the shot.
It took 43 minutes for Chelsea to muster a shot on target when Enzo Fernandez’s long-range blast was punched clear by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Having frustrated Arsenal for 45 minutes, Chelsea needed to push for a goal but Liam Delap stabbed wide from a corner straight after the interval.
Rosenior sent on Palmer and Estevao Willian after an hour, ditching his back three.
Estevao immediately set up Fernandez for a curler that flashed over, but Chelsea’s threat petered out.
Havertz delivered the knockout blow in the final seconds of stoppage-time, rounding Sanchez to slot into the empty net after Chelsea were caught on the counter.
AFP
Nigeria overturned a double-digit halftime deficit to defeat the Philippines 101–84 in a Group A game of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Villeurbanne, France, on Saturday.
The Philippines led for more than 22 minutes and built a 10-point cushion in the first half. Nigeria responded strongly after the break, eventually pulling away in the final quarter.
Midway into the third quarter, Nigeria wiped out a five-point deficit with a 17–12 run. A turnaround jumper by Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah tied the score at 67–67.
Guards Ifunanya Okoro and Elizabeth Balogun scored nine points in the run. Promise Amukamara also grabbed four rebounds and added two points to steady the team.
Three-pointers from Janine Pontejos and Louna Ozar briefly kept the Philippines competitive. However, Nigeria’s inside scoring helped them take a 70–67 lead into the fourth quarter.
Centre Victoria Macaulay powered Nigeria’s comeback with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks in just over 21 minutes of play.
Murjanatu Musa contributed 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Nicole Enabosi recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds after an early scoring burst.
For the Philippines, Janine Pontejos led with 16 points, including an eight-point surge late in the second quarter to keep her side in contention.
Nigeria’s decisive moment came with a 9–0 run in the final quarter, stretching an 81–80 lead to 90–80 and effectively sealing the contest.
Balogun scored five points during the run with perfect shooting, while Nigeria’s defence limited the Philippines’ scoring options late in the game.
The Philippines earlier enjoyed a 7–0 run late in the first quarter, turning a 21–19 deficit into a 26–21 lead with Kacey Dela Rosa scoring five points.
The match featured 12 lead changes from early in the first quarter until midway in the third, when Nigeria seized the lead permanently.
Nigeria’s biggest lead reached 17 points in the closing seconds at 101–84. The Philippines’ largest advantage was 10 points in the second quarter.
Nigeria led for 15 minutes and eight seconds overall, while the Philippines held the advantage for 22 minutes and one second. The score was tied for two minutes and 51 seconds.
Nigeria’s most effective lineup of Ezinne Kalu, Amukamara, Macaulay, Balogun and Musa played nearly 16 minutes together and posted a plus-12 performance.
The victory highlighted Nigeria’s resilience and depth, as strong rebounding and balanced scoring helped secure a convincing second-half comeback in the tournament.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has mourned the demise of ex- Super Eagles midfielder, Henry Nwosu.
He died in a Lagos hospital on Saturday morning.
The 62-year-old’s passing came a few days after the death of former NFF Technical Director and two-time Super Eagles head coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde.
NFF’s Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi, said the entire football community cannot forget Nwosu’s immense contributions to the growth of the game in the country.
“This is another very sad news, even as we are still mourning the demise of Chief Onigbinde. Nigeria football can never forget the enormous contributions of Henry Nwosu both as a player and a coach. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest, and also grant the family he has left behind, as well as friends and relations, the fortitude to bear the loss,” Sanusi told thenff.com.
Nwosu was a member of the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles) side that won the title at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations.
Arsenal have approached Declan Rice over a new long-term contract.
Rice’s existing deal still has two years left to run, while there is also an option to extend that term by a further 12 months.
But the Premier League leaders are looking for the England international to commit his prime years to the club.
Renewal talks are underway, and the offer will include a pay increase to solidify his position as one of Arsenal’s best earners.
Bukayo Saka recently signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract worth a minimum of £300,000 per week. Rice’s current deal is worth a reported £240,000 per week.
Discussions are described as being at an early stage, and no timeline has been set for their completion.
But the process of ensuring Rice stays in north London for the foreseeable future is underway.
Since joining Arsenal from West Ham in a deal worth £105m in 2023, the 27-year-old has established a reputation as one of the best midfielders in Europe.
He has made 102 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, while he has also established himself as a key player for England, having already won 72 caps.
Arsenal have moved to lock in the futures of their top stars, with Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri signing extensions over the past 12 months.
The club has also opened talks with Jurrien Timber over an improved deal.
David Raya and Leandro Trossard have also been awarded with improved contracts in recent months, although those deals did not include additional time on their deals.
Arsenal lead the race for the Premier League title by seven points from Manchester City, who have a game in hand, heading into the weekend.
They host Everton, while City go to West Ham, with both games on Saturday.
The Gunners last won the English league title in 2004, during Arsene Wenger’s reign as manager.
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