Mikel Arteta would not have liked the extra seconds played as his Arsenal team looked to see out their aggregate advantage over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. Until Kai Havertz scored, of course.
The Emirates Stadium was initially told there would be six minutes added time. It was only in the 97th minute, when Havertz sprung forward on the counter-attack to score the sole goal of the game, that their passage into the final was secured.
The scenes were naturally jubilant. Havertz, a former Chelsea player, pointed to the Arsenal badge in celebration. There was a pitch invasion from the Arsenal substitutes. Songs about Wembley were sung.
But in the cold light of day, Arteta will hope the moment can provide a springboard for his team and Havertz — and maybe even an answer to a transfer dilemma.
Can Havertz plug midfield gap after Merino injury?
On deadline day, Arteta surprised assembled journalists when talking about the team’s need for a new midfielder following a potentially season-ending injury to Mikel Merino.
“We need to do everything that we possibly can to see if we have a player that is available,” he said of potentially adding a new player on deadline day. “If we don’t, OK, we keep what we have.”
Merino is a valuable squad player. In midfield, he provides a thrusting presence and in recent years he has filled in as an emergency forward too. In one-and-a-half years at Arsenal, he has 15 goals.
With no midfielder signed on deadline day, the Gunners will need to go with what they’ve got. And what they’ve got, is Havertz.