2017-18 Carabao Cup: Chelsea vs Arsenal – 1st leg

With Manchester City already halfway towards Wembley, attention turns to Chelsea vs Arsenal as they play their first leg.

Both teams experienced surprising results in the FA Cup last weekend, so could this throw a tasty surprise?

Team News

Chelsea welcome back Eden Hazard, after he missed Saturday’s match with a calf injury.

New midfield signing, Ross Barkley is still out after hamstring surgery.

Arsene Wenger will serve the second of a three match touchline ban but could start a full strength team.

Granit Xhaka (groin) remains a doubt alongside defender, Shkodran Mustafi (knock).

Paths to semi finals

Both teams entered the competition in round three so have been on similar paths to this stage.

Chelsea

Chelsea will be hoping to make home advantage count here but they can’t concede again like they have done in previous rounds this season.

Concede then I can see it being more than just that one goal and potentially costly.

Arsenal

Arsenal face a tough test because they have played the last three previous rounds all at home.

Their defence seems solid with just that one goal conceded so should be on for a good result here.

Stat Attack

There has been six meetings in this competition between these teams. Five of the ties have been at Arsenal but Chelsea won their only home clash in February 1998, which came at this stage but as second leg and progressed 4-3 on aggregate to the final.
Arsenal have 7 goals to the Blues’ 14 from the six previous meetings

Prediction

Both teams rested players at weekend so this should be a classic clash, just like last week’s 2-2 draw at the Emirates was in Premier League.

Ultimately, I can see another draw here but much tighter.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Result: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal

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