![\"Trevoh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_JS395194990.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 (4-2 on aggregate) in the Carabao Cup semi-final and had appeals for a penalty at the Emirates Stadium<\/p>\n
Trevoh Chalobah’s tackle on Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli was checked by VAR(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Gary Neville has explained why Chelsea <\/a>star Trevoh Chalobah \u2018took a risk\u2019 with a tackle on Gabriel Martinelli that led to a penalty check for Arsenal <\/a>in the Carabao Cup semi-final. The Gunners claimed a 1-0 win in the second leg of the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium to book their place in the final at Wembley Stadium.<\/p>\n Kai Havertz<\/a> scored the only goal of the game in stoppage time to hand Arsenal a 1-0 victory over the Blues, which clinched a 4-2 victory on aggregate<\/a> to book their place in next month\u2019s final.<\/p>\n Even though Arsenal <\/a>got the win with a last-minute goal, the Gunners had appeals for a penalty in the closing stages of the game.<\/p>\n Arsenal appealed for a spot-kick for a tackle from Chalobah <\/a>on Martinelli<\/a>, with the Gunners believing that the challenge was worthy of a penalty.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Paul Merson lets rip after Arsenal beat Chelsea in Carabao Cup semi-final – ‘I am lost for words’<\/a>READ MORE: Mikel Arteta’s Enzo Fernandez frustration and why Liam Rosenior glared at Arsenal crowd<\/a><\/p>\n Referee Peter Bankes did not award a penalty on the pitch, and the decision was subsequently checked and cleared by VAR, with the decision of no penalty confirmed.<\/p>\n FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n Neville was on commentary duty for Sky Sports\u2019 coverage of the match at the Emirates Stadium, and explained why he believes the challenge was a \u201crisk\u201d from the Chelsea defender.<\/p>\n “I think he [Chalobah] gets the ball initially and it’s the follow-through that looks a little bit ugly,\u201d Neville said.<\/p>\n “He’s lunging out and from where we were, you see he gets the ball. It’s the follow-through he takes a risk on but it’s a silly thing to do because he gets the ball initially.<\/p>\n “When he sweeps his leg with that left foot.\u201d<\/p>\n Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury then passed on the message from James Bell, who was on VAR duty, as to why the decision of no penalty remained unchanged after a check.<\/p>\n “The VAR is saying that it is checked and cleared and, in the words of James Bell, there is natural contact after he plays the ball,\u201d Drury said.<\/p>\n Neville then responded by disagreeing with the verdict from VAR, where the Manchester United legend said: “It wasn’t natural. He [Chalobah] sweeps his left leg up in the air, which he didn’t need to do because he made a good challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was always the follow-through that I thought was the danger for him, you can see why it wasn’t given.”<\/p>\n Arsenal will now look ahead to the Carabao Cup final, which is scheduled to take place on March 22 at Wembley. As a result, the Gunners\u2019 Premier League clash against Wolves, which is pencilled in to be played that same weekend, will need to be rearranged.<\/p>\n Sign up for Arsenal news direct to your email inbox<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta and Arsenal<\/a> face a crucial summer transfer window if they want to push Liverpool and Manchester City for the title next season and you can stay up to date with every breaking news story, opinion and more…<\/p>\n