Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has heaped praise on Chelsea's squad depth and specifically highlighted the quality of Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian, following the Gunners' hard-fought Carabao Cup semi-final victory. Mikel Arteta's side progressed to the final with a 4-2 aggregate win, securing their place after a tense second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal's Defensive Resilience Seals Final Berth
Entering the second leg with a slender one-goal advantage from their 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal's defence once again proved to be the foundation of their success. The Gunners managed to neutralise a Chelsea team that had been in impressive form under new manager Liam Rosenior, winning six of their previous seven matches. The deadlock was finally broken in dramatic fashion during injury time, with Kai Havertz scoring a crucial winner to send Arsenal through to the final on March 22nd.
Timber's Admiration for Chelsea's Strength
In his post-match comments, Timber was quick to acknowledge the threat posed by Chelsea, describing them as a 'great team' with 'amazing players'. He particularly noted the impact of substitutes Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian, who were introduced in the second half despite not starting the match. Palmer is still working his way back from an injury, while Estevao had recently returned from compassionate leave in Brazil.
'Bringing Palmer and Estevao on, they also have amazing players coming off the bench,' Timber remarked. 'When you win over two legs twice, I think you have done an amazing job, so credit to the team. The desire is there – we are very hungry. We are in an amazing position.'
The Dutch defender, who will now feature in his first final since joining Arsenal in 2023, also expressed his delight at the atmosphere and praised Havertz's match-winning contribution. 'The atmosphere at the end just makes me smile. On to Wembley! Kai did amazing, for him to be out for so long and come back and the love he gets from the fans says a lot,' he added.
Rice Echoes Praise for Chelsea's Performance
Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice also commended Chelsea's efforts after the match, highlighting their improvement under Rosenior. Speaking to ITV, Rice stated: 'Credit to Chelsea to be fair. Since their new manager has come in they’ve been really, really good. They changed the formation tonight and gave us problems. On another night they could have scored but credit where it is due, our defence was incredible.'
Rice emphasised the team's collective determination, noting: 'We have a group who really want it. Whatever team comes at us, we’re ready for it. When you play a team like Chelsea they throw so many things at you physically and mentally. You’ve got to have that resilience to stay strong and keep going.'
Reflecting on Arsenal's recent near-misses in competitions, Rice revealed an increased drive within the squad. 'The last three or four years we’ve been at the top of the Premier League competing and got really close but haven’t been good enough. That’s why this season we have that extra desire and fire in our bellies to go one step further in every competition. There’s a long way to go but to be in a cup final with this club is amazing.'
Looking Ahead to Premier League Challenges
Both teams now turn their attention back to Premier League duties this weekend. Arsenal, who currently hold a six-point lead at the top of the table as they pursue their first league title since 2004, will face Sunderland. Meanwhile, Chelsea, sitting in fifth place and just one point behind Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification, travel to face Wolves.
Arsenal's victory sets up a Carabao Cup final clash against either Manchester City or Newcastle United, as the Gunners aim to add silverware to what is shaping up to be a potentially historic season.
