In a captivating Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on January 14, 2026, Arsenal emerged victorious with a 3-2 away win against rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners established an early lead through Ben White's header in the seventh minute from a Declan Rice corner. Arsenal further extended their advantage early in the second half when Viktor Gyokeres, a notable summer 2025 signing from Sporting CP, capitalized on a goalkeeping error to tap in, scoring his first non-penalty goal in 74 days. Chelsea, under new head coach Liam Rosenior, responded with a goal from substitute Alejandro Garnacho in the 57th minute, narrowing the deficit. However, Arsenal restored their two-goal cushion in the 71st minute with a well-taken goal from another 2025 summer recruit, Martin Zubimendi, who joined from Real Sociedad. Garnacho, proving to be a lively introduction, scored his second of the night in the 83rd minute, giving Chelsea a lifeline for the return leg. The Goal.com article's headline claims regarding Gyokeres "answering his critics" and Zubimendi "running the show" are supported by various match reports highlighting Gyokeres' goal drought ending and Zubimendi's impactful performance. Arsenal's 3-2 away win provides them a significant, though not insurmountable, advantage heading into the second leg, affirming the claim of taking control of the semi-final. Both Gyokeres and Zubimendi were indeed Arsenal players at the time of the match, having joined the club in July 2025.