The moment came deep into stoppage time on February 3, 2026, during the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium. With the tie delicately poised at 3-2 on aggregate in Arsenal’s favor following their first-leg win at Stamford Bridge, substitute Kai Havertz delivered the killer blow in the 97th minute. The former Chelsea man rounded goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and slotted home what proved to be the only goal of the night, sealing a 1-0 victory on the evening and a 4-2 aggregate triumph that books Arsenal’s place in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
As the ball hit the net, cameras captured Arteta in full flow: arms pumping wildly, fists clenched, roaring in delight before charging down the touchline in a burst of animated energy. The Arsenal bench erupted in pandemonium, with staff and substitutes joining the chaos. Arteta’s reaction—intense, passionate, and unfiltered—quickly went viral, shared across platforms as clips from Arsenal’s official “Bench Cam” footage and fan accounts highlighted the raw emotion.
In his post-match comments, Arteta described the scenes as “magical,” telling reporters: “We are so happy. Over the last two games, we deserved to be through. We wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way, with Kai scoring the goal in the manner that he did and the reaction from the crowd, the starters, the finishers, the staff—it just was magical. It was a really tough match against a great opponent, and we are in Wembley.”
He praised his team’s resilience in a tense, hard-fought battle: “We knew it was going to be a real battle out there. That resilience, that clarity to understand what kind of game we had to play, we did so well.” Arteta also highlighted Havertz’s moment against his old club, noting how “everybody who knows Kai a little bit feels genuinely happy for him in a special way, because he deserves the best.”
For Chelsea supporters, the late heartbreak amplified the sting. Under new manager Liam Rosenior, the Blues had pushed hard but couldn’t convert their pressure into goals, leaving them vulnerable to Arsenal’s clinical counter. Social media exploded with Chelsea fans venting about the defeat, some mocking Arteta’s over-the-top celebration in a cup tie, while others lamented defensive lapses or Rosenior’s decisions. Posts flooded in with captions like “Arteta celebrating like they won the Champions League” or “This is why rival fans hate him—pure salt in the wound.”
Arsenal fans, meanwhile, reveled in it. Clips of Arteta’s touchline sprint and the bench eruption racked up thousands of likes and shares, with many calling it one of his most passionate moments yet. The victory marks Arsenal’s return to a major final after years of near-misses, their first domestic cup final in six years, and a huge boost in a season where they’re chasing silverware across competitions.
The tie itself was a classic Arsenal-Chelsea clash: gritty, tactical, and decided by fine margins. Arsenal’s defense stood firm under sustained Chelsea pressure, while Havertz’s late intervention—poetic given his history—sparked the fireworks. Arteta’s animated response wasn’t just about the goal; it symbolized the relief, belief, and hunger in a squad that’s been building toward these defining nights.
As the dust settles, the clip continues to dominate timelines. Whether you see Arteta’s reaction as class, passion, or provocation, it’s undeniable that it’s set social media ablaze. Arsenal are Wembley-bound, and the Gunners boss made sure everyone knew exactly how much it meant. Chelsea fans might still be reeling, but for Arsenal supporters, this is the kind of moment that fuels dreams of silverware. 😳💥
