Rice Clash With Arsenal Coach Overshadows Carabao Cup Semi Final Win at Chelsea
Declan Rice was involved in a heated exchange with Arsenal assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg at halftime of the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea, moments before the Gunners went on to secure a narrow 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.
The confrontation unfolded despite Arsenal holding a 1-0 lead through Ben White’s corner header, with television cameras capturing Rice visibly frustrated as players headed down the tunnel following a tense opening period.
The England midfielder appeared unhappy with instructions from Stuivenberg, reacting angrily before being calmed by teammates, notably Gabriel Magalhaes, as staff attempted to defuse the situation.
The incident came against the backdrop of a high-stakes semifinal, with Arsenal aiming to seize control of the tie and Chelsea desperate to stay in contention for a place at Wembley. Emotions were already running high in a fixture that carried both local rivalry and major silverware implications.
Inside a charged Stamford Bridge, Arsenal started assertively and controlled large spells of the first half. Their dominance from set pieces paid off when White powered home from a corner, silencing the home crowd and putting Mikel Arteta’s side in control.
The match remained fractious, with challenges flying in and tempers threatening to boil over. Several flashpoints followed, including touchline exchanges and animated reactions from both benches as the physical tone intensified.
Arsenal extended their advantage after the break through goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, both finishes arriving during a strong spell that appeared to put the tie firmly in the visitors’ grasp.
Chelsea responded with urgency and found a lifeline through Alejandro Garnacho, whose two goals reignited the contest and kept the home side within touching distance heading into the return leg.
Momentum swung repeatedly in the second half as Arsenal missed chances to kill the tie while Chelsea pushed aggressively, forcing defensive reshuffles and late interventions from the Gunners’ back line.
The closing stages were tense, with Chelsea pressing for an equalizer and Arsenal protecting their slim advantage amid a raucous atmosphere. Full time brought further confrontations, including clashes involving Zubimendi, Gabriel Jesus, and Enzo Fernandez.
Arsenal now carry a 3-2 lead into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on February 3, knowing discipline and composure will be crucial as they attempt to finish the job and book a place at Wembley while maintaining momentum in a season already shaping up to be a title-defining one.