LONDON: Arsenal started the post-Alexis Sanchez era in style on Wednesday, fighting back from a goal down against old foes Chelsea to reach the League Cup final as Granit Xhaka poked home to complete a 2-1 second-leg win that set up a Wembley showdown with Manchester City.

Both Arsenal goals received a helping hand from Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger as the semi-final meeting of London rivals came to life after a sterile, scoreless first leg two weeks ago at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea raced into a seventh-minute lead through Eden Hazard but Arsenal quickly fought back at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has faced perennial questions about his side’s steel in the face of adversity, but these were swept away as Nacho Monreal’s free header from a corner ricocheted off the heads of Chelsea duo Marcos Alonso and Rudiger before flying into the net in the 12th minute.

Arsenal took the lead on the hour when Alexandre Lacazette’s cross was inadvertently diverted by Rudiger into the path of Xhaka, who poked the ball past goalkeeper Willy Caballero and they stayed rock-solid at the back for the rest of the game to set up an enticing final against Premier League leaders City on February 25.

Wenger was unable to field the cup-tied Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who joined the club from Manchester United earlier this week in a swap deal with Sanchez moving in the other direction.

Arsenal had been under the cosh for much of the first half but they came out after the break a changed side, taking the game to their visitors and providing a glimmer of joy in a gloomy domestic campaign.

“In the first half we gave Chelsea too much respect and distance. We were a bit scared to go for it and we suffered from that,” said Wenger.

“We were not playing in the right position but we amended that in the second half and took control of the game.

“We lost a great player in Alexis Sanchez but when a team doesn’t know what’s going on in the dressing room there is less clarity and focus on performances,” he said. “We know we have to deal with it now.”

It was Chelsea’s first defeat since December 9, yet they have now failed to win six out of their last seven games, if you discount their penalty shootout win over Norwich in the FA Cup.

“There is a big disappointment ... there was great will to play at Wembley,” Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said.

Defeat for Conte continues his miserable record as a manager of never winning a cup despite league success with both Juventus and Chelsea.

“I think my players must be pleased with their effort, we tried to reach the final, we conceded two goals and we were unlucky, two deflections,” said Conte. “It is a pity because we had a good run in this competition, it is a pity for me, the players and fans.”

Chelsea were missing Alvaro Morata and Cesc Fabregas and their attacking threat was sapped by the loss of Willian in the first half with a hamstring problem. And it was little wonder the goal threat was so lacking from a side that won the Premier League last season.

Chelsea’s hopes of defending that title faded long ago, with City 15 points ahead of the third-placed champions. Arsenal are languishing in sixth place but Wenger is still through to a fourth domestic final in five seasons.

For once, it’s not the FA Cup providing cover for Wenger. Arsenal’s defence of the more prestigious domestic cup ended at the first hurdle in an embarrassing loss to Nottingham Forest earlier this month. But a first trip to the League Cup final since 2011 gives Wenger a chance to add the only piece of domestic silverware missing in more than 21 years at Arsenal.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2018