Arsenal face Chelsea in the second leg of their 2025-26 Carabao Cup semi-final.
With a 3-2 aggregate lead from the first leg, Arsenal simply need to avoid defeat to advance to the final on Sunday 22 March.
Chelsea must simply win by a two-goal margin at minimum to stand any chance at overturning their deficit and progressing to the final.
Team News
Bukayo Saka is a doubt for Arsenal after he suffered a hip injury in warmup ahead of their 4-0 Premier League victory at Leeds.
Mikel Merino (foot) missed that match and has joined Max Dowman (ankle) on the sidelines.
Chelsea is set to be without Jamie Bynoe-Gittens after he suffered a hamstring injury in their 3-2 Premier League comeback at home to West Ham.
Estevao missed that game for personal reasons and is considered a doubt for this clash, whilst Filip Jorgensen (fitness) faces late checks.
Dario Essugo (unspecified), Tosin Adarabioyo (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (quad), Levi Colwill (ACL) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) are still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal host Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday 3 February at 8pm GMT, live on ITV1, ITVX, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Football in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have avoided defeat in five of their last nine Carabao Cup meetings against Chelsea (W4, D1, L4).
- Chelsea have won two of five previous trips to Arsenal in this competition across its various names (W2, L3), although three of those clashes came at the Gunners’ former home – Highbury.
- Both Arsenal and Chelsea have each once progressed from their two previous semi-final ties against each other in this competition.
- Arsenal have both of their last two semi-final home legs in this competition by 2-0 results against Liverpool and Newcastle respectively (L2).
- Alejandro Garnacho has scored twice in each of Chelsea’s last two Carabao Cup matches (W1, L1).
Prediction
Despite their slender lead, Arsenal can’t afford to rest on their laurels because they will need to be as clinical as they were at Leeds and get on the front – just like they did in the first leg at Stamford Bridge as this tie is far from sewn up.
Chelsea meanwhile absolutely have to turn up from the get-go because if they play as passively as they did in the first half against West Ham and easily outran on the break, their title hopes could be over by half time no matter what they produce in the second half.
The first goal though is crucial because if Chelsea get ahead then it’s game on but given how tough Arsenal are to beat at home aside from the Manchester United defeat, I just can’t see the Gunners losing this even if it’s a tense finish.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea
Result: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
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