Kai Havertz was Arsenal’s match-winner when the Gunners beat Chelsea to progress to the Carabao Cup final.
It was fitting to see Havertz score against Chelsea, as he has tortured his former club since making the move to Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta will see the striker’s return from injury as coming at the perfect time, particularly with a cup final now on the schedule.
Havertz won Chelsea the Champions League in 2021, flexing his status as a big game player at the highest possible level, but he’s not the only member of Arsenal’s squad who could decide the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s first 90th minute match-winner in a 1-0 result since 2017, who scored the last?
Clue: It last happened against Burnley in the 2017/18 season.
Viktor Gyokeres could be Arsenal’s match-winner in the Carabao Cup final
One of Manchester City and Newcastle United awaits Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.
In what will be Arsenal’s first trip to Wembley since 2020, Arteta might already be having subtle thoughts about his starting XI.
Havertz’s record in finals makes him integral, but the same applies to Viktor Gyokeres.
When the Swede was at Sporting CP, he featured in four cup finals and during that time, he contributed to four goals.
Should this record guarantee Viktor Gyokeres a start in the Carabao Cup final?
Gyokeres’ most significant cup win in Portugal was the 2025 Taca De Portugal, beating Benfica 3-1 in the final.
The striker had another appearance in the Taca De Portugal 2024 final, also featuring in the Allianz Cup and the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira, which is the Portuguese equivalent of the Community Shield.
Here is a breakdown of Gyokeres’ record in finals at Sporting:
- Allianz Cup 2025 – 1 goal
- Taca De Portugal 2024 – 0 goals
- Taca De Portugal 2025 – 1 goal
- Supertaca Candido de Oliveira 2024 – 2 assists
Gyokeres has bad memories at Wembley
Gyokeres had an uneventful night against Chelsea, but it didn’t matter, as he’s on his way to Wembley with Arsenal.
The idea of heading to Wembley is something that might bring back some bad memories for the striker, however, as he last visited the ground in 2023.
Agree or disagree? This should be Arsenal’s starting XI in the Carabao Cup final!
Gyokeres’ 21 Championship goals in the 2022/23 season sent Coventry City to the play-off final, but the rest was awful, as Luton Town gained promotion.
Against the odds, it was Luton who made it to the Premier League, while Coventry still remain in the second tier today, but that could change this year.
For Gyokeres, there’s unfinished business under the arch, and what better way to rewrite his memories of the stadium than to fire Arsenal to their first trophy lift of the season?
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