Chelsea are preparing for a high-stakes clash against Arsenal on Tuesday night when the two London rivals meet at the Emirates Stadium for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final showdown.
With a place in the final on the line, tension is already building ahead of what promises to be an intense encounter.
The first leg at Stamford Bridge was packed with action and controversy, ultimately ending in a narrow 3–2 victory for Arsenal.
Goals from Ben White, Viktor Gyökeres, and Martin Zubimendi gave the Gunners the edge, while Chelsea stayed firmly in the tie thanks to a brace from Alejandro Garnacho.
Despite the defeat, the Blues will take encouragement from their ability to breach Arsenal’s defence twice and remain very much alive in the contest.
Garnacho’s performance in that match once again put the spotlight on the Argentine winger, who has endured a mixed spell since completing a £40 million move from Manchester United to Chelsea last summer. While expectations were high following his arrival, consistency has proven elusive.
Across 26 appearances in all competitions, Garnacho has managed six goals, a return that has drawn criticism from pundits and sections of the Chelsea fanbase.
His displays have often been scrutinized, with many questioning whether he has fully settled into life at the club.
Ahead of the crucial return leg in north London, Garnacho made comments that quickly caught attention, particularly due to their apparent reference to his former club, Manchester United.
Reflecting on the challenge of playing at the Emirates, he acknowledged the widespread belief that Arsenal are extremely difficult to beat on their home turf.
He explained that after Chelsea lost the first leg, he noticed a wave of commentary suggesting that Arsenal were unbeatable at the Emirates, with many pointing out that no team had managed to win there. However, Garnacho suggested that recent events may have altered that perception.
He pointed to Manchester United’s recent 3–2 Premier League victory at the Emirates as evidence that Arsenal can, in fact, be beaten on their own ground. According to Garnacho, if United were capable of pulling off such a result, then Chelsea should believe they can do the same.
While his words were clearly intended to boost confidence within the Chelsea camp, they did not go down well with many supporters online.
Social media platforms quickly filled with negative reactions, as fans interpreted his comments in different ways.
Some supporters accused him of tempting fate, with one fan stating they were “saving” his quote for later in case Chelsea were eliminated.
Others felt his remarks showed a lack of respect toward Manchester United, arguing that he should have avoided mentioning his former club altogether.
Another user suggested that Garnacho was doing himself no favors by drawing attention and creating unnecessary controversy, claiming he was “making more enemies” with every comment.
There were also fans who took a more mocking tone, pointing out that United currently sit higher than Chelsea in the league table.
One supporter questioned why Garnacho still seemed so focused on his old club, implying that he may secretly regret leaving and still hold emotional ties to Manchester United.
As Chelsea head into Tuesday night’s decisive fixture, Garnacho’s comments have only added another layer of intrigue.
Whether his words serve as motivation or come back to haunt him will be revealed under the bright lights of the Emirates, where Chelsea must overturn a one-goal deficit to keep their Carabao Cup hopes alive.
