Rosenior's side had beaten second-tier Charlton 5-1 in his debut in the FA Cup third round last weekend. But Arsenal ensured his first game on the Stamford Bridge bench was significantly less enjoyable.

Ben White put the Premier League leaders ahead in the first half and Viktor Gyokeres punished a blunder by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to score their second after the interval.

Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to pull one back for Chelsea before Martin Zubimendi grabbed Arsenal's third goal. Garnacho gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope with his second goal in the closing stages.

But Arsenal will go into the second leg at Emirates Stadium on February 3 as firm favourites to reach the Wembley final in March. Manchester City won 2-0 at Newcastle in the first leg of the other semi-final on Tuesday.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions as they try to win their first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had claimed his players were motivated by their 4-0 aggregate defeat against Newcastle in the League Cup semi-finals last season. They also lost in the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions League, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 Europa League.

At the top of the Premier League and Champions League, and through to the FA Cup fourth round, Arsenal may never have a better chance to end their silverware drought.

Rosenior, sacked by Hull in 2024, was hired by Chelsea last week to replace Enzo Maresca after earning plaudits for leading French club Strasbourg to a seventh-place finish last season.

The 41-year-old's introduction to Stamford Bridge was hampered by the absence of Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Malo Gusto due to a combination of injuries, illness and suspension.

Set-piece experts

Despite saying he had been focused on playing Arsenal since the moment he took charge last week, Chelsea looked completely unprepared as they were caught cold in the seventh minute.

Arsenal's set-piece prowess has become their most essential attacking quality over the last two seasons and Rosenior became their latest victim in the seventh minute.

Declan Rice curled a corner into the six-yard box and when Sanchez mistimed his attempt to catch the ball, the unmarked White had time and space to guide a downwards header into the net.

White's first goal since 2024, when he netted against Chelsea, was Arsenal's 24th from set-pieces - including 18 at corners - in all competitions this season, the most by any club in Europe's top five leagues.

Chelsea tried to respond, but Kepa Arrizabalaga saved from Enzo Fernandez and Estevao Willian. Arsenal doubled their lead in the 49th minute thanks to Sanchez's howler.

White's low cross should have been easy for Sanchez, but he let it slip through his grasp and Gyokeres tapped it into the empty net for his first goal in open play in 16 games.

It was a rare moment of vindication for the much-maligned Sweden striker, who has scored just eight times in 26 appearances since arriving from Sporting Lisbon last year. Rosenior sent on Garnacho for Marc Guiu and the change made an immediate impact.

Garnacho struck in the 57th minute, drilling home from close range after Arsenal failed to clear. Zubimendi restored the Gunners' two-goal advantage in the 71st minute.

The Spain midfielder took Gyokeres' lay-off and cleverly worked space for a clinical finish from 10 yards. Garnacho dragged Chelsea back into the tie, drilling past Kepa from a half-cleared corner in the 83rd minute.

Ben White

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