Chelsea analysis: Arsene Wenger outfoxes Antonio Conte again as EFL Cup exit highlights need for Edin Dzeko

Simon Johnson25 January 2018

Arsenal profited from two fortuitous goals to beat Chelsea 2-1 and seal an EFL Cup final meeting with Manchester City, providing a glimmer of joy in a gloomy domestic campaign./p>

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.

Chelsea raced into a seventh-minute lead through Eden Hazard but Arsenal quickly fought back. 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 Granit Xhaka, who poked the ball past goalkeeper Willy Caballero.

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Arsenal | EFL Cup semi-final

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Simon Johnson analyses the key talking points for Chelsea...

Conte's miserable record against Wenger continues

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Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho used to love playing against Arsenal when he was in charge at Stamford Bridge - the same can't be said for Conte.

This was the eighth competitive game between the two clubs since the Italian took over in the summer of 2016.

In all these contests, Conte has got the better of Wenger just once and that success in February last year must seem a long time ago.

Arsenal have now deprived Chelsea and Conte of three trophies. They beat them in the FA Cup Final last May to deny them an historic Double, then the Community Shield in August and now a place in the EFL Cup Final.

Conte will claim he hasn't had things go his way in a lot of these fixtures, but the hierarchy aren't interested in excuses.

Given that Conte is expected to leave the club at the end of the season, he won't have an opportunity to improve the statistics either.

Hazard enjoys facing Arsenal once more

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There is something about Arsenal that tends to bring out the best in Hazard and it was more of the same here.

Hazard's greatest moment in a blue shirt against them remains his superb individual goal at Stamford Bridge 11 months ago.

However, for the second time at Emirates Stadium this month, Hazard has found the net.

There was nothing controversial about it on this occasion. In the League game Arsenal were furious that he won a penalty, which he converted, after being kicked by Hector Bellerin.

But this evening he just waltzed through Arsenal's defence on to Pedro's pass to put Chelsea into an early lead.

There were other moments where he posed a threat, but couldn't quite finish it off with the same aplomb.

Difficult debut for Barkley

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Given this was his first appearance of the season, it is not too surprising that Barkley looked a little rusty.

Apart from a couple of training games behind closed doors, first at Everton and then at new club Chelsea, Barkley clearly lacks match fitness after suffering a serious hamstring injury.

Chelsea signed him for a cut price £15m at the start of the month and Conte warned he needed to work on his condition, plus getting used to his tactics.

Conte didn't intend to give him a lot of game time tonight, as was shown by naming him on the bench.

But Willian limped off with a hamstring injury before the half hour mark and Barkley had to come on.

From the moment he stepped off the bench, it didn't go smoothly. Conte shouted at him angrily for taking too long to warm up.

He was soon fouled by Jack Wilshere and then he returned the favour to Hector Bellerin shortly afterwards.

Just before half-time, his careless pass allowed Arsenal to break and Mesut Ozil almost put the home side 2-1 ahead.

There were some positive signs when he linked up with his Chelsea team-mates after the break, but fans will have to be patient before Barkley is 100 per cent.

A game to forget for Rudiger

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Luck was certainly not on the German international's side against Arsene Wenger's men.

He didn't do a lot wrong throughout and yet Rudiger's intervention was key to Chelsea conceding both Arsenal goals.

There wasn't much he could do when Nacho Monreal's header deflected off team-mate Marcos Alonso from close range onto his head and into the back of the net.

Then in the second half, he blocked Alexandre Lacazette's cross, but it bounced perfectly into the path of Granit Xhaka.

Unfortunately he wasn't as deadly in the opposition area. With eight minutes remaining, he wasted a glorious chance to equalise by sending a free header way over the bar from six yards.

Chelsea need to get Dzeko deal finalised

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Conte's decision to pick Michy Batshuayi on the bench was another reminder how he wants another striker signed this month.

The 'false nine' formation worked with mixed results against the Gunners.

While Chelsea looked a threat through the middle early on, crosses from out wide never posed a danger.

With no genuine target man to aim for in the penalty area, Arsenal were able to cut out all the centres with ease. Even when Batshuayi came on in the second half, that didn't change.

Roma sporting director Monchi confirmed earlier this evening that the club have yet to accept an offer from Chelsea for Dzeko, who scored for the Serie A club against Sampdoria tonight.

And with first choice forward Alvaro Morata struggling with a back injury and a lack of confidence, the need for the Dzeko deal to be resolved has grown in importance.

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