Arsenal host Chelsea in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final clash at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Gunners secured a 3-2 victory over the Blues in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, giving Mikel Arteta’s side the control of the tie heading into this game.
Match preview
History is firmly stacked against Chelsea, as Arsenal are unbeaten in the last nine meetings between the sides (W6, D3), with the Blues not tasting victory in this fixture since August 2021.
The Emirates has been an especially unhappy hunting ground for Chelsea of late, with Arsenal winning the last three home meetings by an emphatic 9-1 aggregate score.
Arsenal came out on top the last time they faced Chelsea in a Carabao Cup semi-final, winning 2-1 in 2017 before losing to Manchester City in the final.
This is the seventh time Chelsea and Arsenal have met in the Carabao Cup and the third at the semifinal stage, with the Blues winning four of the previous six.
The Blues have won one of their past 14 games in all competitions against Arsenal since January 2020.
Mikel Arteta’s side have won one game (against Kairat Almaty) in their past their home games in all competitions (one draw, one defeat) and have conceded five goals in the last two of those.
The West Londoners have progressed to the Carabao Cup final from 10 of their last 16 semifinals, including the past three.
Arsenal have reached the Carabao Cup semifinal for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in the last 18 seasons. Last term Newcastle United beat the Gunners 4-0 on aggregate at this stage.
Team news
Arsenal
Arsenal will definitely be without Max Dowman due to an ankle injury, while Bukayo Saka is a doubt and Mikel Merino could be out for the rest of the season with a foot injury.
Chelsea
Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Tosin Adarabioyo, Jamie Gittens and Romeo Lavia are sidelined with injuries.
Liam Rosenior confirmed the uncertainty of Estevao’s availability after he missed Chelsea’s win over West Ham United at the weekend due to personal reasons.
Predicted line-ups
Arsenal: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres.
Chelsea: Robert Sanchez, Reece James, Trevor Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, João Pedro.