Chelsea will be looking to book our place in yet another Wembley final tonight when we travel to Arsenal for the second leg of the Carabao Cup 2025/26 semi-final. Here we look at some of the standout facts and figures ahead of the clash...
The Blues head into the second leg one goal behind, following Arsenal's 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago.
Chelsea-Arsenal head-to-head record (all competitions)
Played: 213
Won: 66
Drawn: 62
Lost: 85
This is the seventh season Chelsea and Arsenal have met in the League Cup and third at the semi-final stage. We have won four of the previous six.
Chelsea-Arsenal League Cup results
Season Round Venue Result Scorers
1976/77 Fourth Highbury L 1-2 Hay
1997/98 Semi 1st leg Highbury L 1-2 M Hughes
1997/98 Semi 2nd leg Stamford Bridge W 3-1 M Hughes, Di Matteo, Petrescu
1998/99 Fourth Highbury W 5-0 Leboeuf pen, Vialli 2, Poyet 2
2006/07 Final Millennium Stadium W 2-1 Drogba 2
2013/14 Fourth Emirates W 2-0 Azpilicueta, Mata
2017/18 Semi 1st leg D 0-0 Stamford Bridge
2017/18 Semi 2nd leg L 1-2 Emirates Hazard
2025/26 Semi 1st leg L 2-3 Stamford Bridge Garnacho 2
Chelsea have won one of our past 14 games in all competitions against Arsenal since January 2020.
Our one victory in that time was at the Emirates Stadium in August 2021 when two first-half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Reece James secured the three points.
The Blues have won five of our last 15 games in all competitions at the Emirates Stadium but have lost the last three by an aggregate of 9-1.
Chelsea have played more games against Arsenal (213) than against any other opponent, 14 more than against Liverpool and 15 more than versus Manchester United.
Last five meetings at the Emirates
Date Competition Result Scorers
26 Dec 2020 Premier League L1-3 Abraham
22 Aug 2021 Premier League W 2-0 Lukaku, James
2 May 2023 Premier League L 1-3 Madueke
23 Apr 2024 Premier League L 0-5
16 Mar 2025 Premier League L 0-1
Biggest win for each team
Season Competition Result
2013/14 Premier League Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal
2023/24 Premier League Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
Chelsea’s biggest win at Arsenal was in fact in the League Cup, our 5-0 victory in the fourth round of the 1998/99 season.
Chelsea stats
Chelsea are aiming for a sixth consecutive victory in all competitions for the first time since a run of eight wins in November and December 2024.
We have progressed to the League Cup final from 10 of our last 16 semi-finals, including the past three. Arsenal were the last team to knock us out at this stage, in 2017/18.
Chelsea are competing in the semi-final of a major cup competition for the 63rd time, 17 of which have been in the League Cup. We have lifted the trophy five times, most recently in 2015 and only Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have won it more often. Arsenal have won it twice, in 1987 and 1993.
Chelsea’s last 15 eliminations from the competition have come against Premier League opposition.
In the first leg at Stamford Bridge Alejandro Garnacho became the first Chelsea player in our history to score a brace in consecutive substitute appearances, with two versus Cardiff and another two against Arsenal.
As highlighted by Bill Edgar of The Times, Chelsea will be the first top-flight team this century to play London derbies in seven consecutive domestic games: Fulham (a), Charlton Athletic (a), Arsenal (h), Brentford (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham United (h), Arsenal (a).
Chelsea's last five League Cup semi-finals
Season Opponent Results Final score
2014/15 Liverpool A 1-1 H 1-0 Won 2-1 on aggregate
2017/18 Arsenal H 0-0 A 1-2 Lost 2-1 on aggregate
2018/19 Tottenham A 0-1 H 2-1 Won on penalties
2021/22 Tottenham H 2-0 A 1-0 Won 3-0 aggregate
2023/24 Middlesbrough A 0-1 H 6-1 Won 6-2 on aggregate
Chelsea's run to 25/26 League Cup semi-final
Round Opponent Venue Result Scorers
Third Lincoln City LNER Stadium W 2-1 George, Buonanotte
Fourth Wolves Molineux W 4-3 Santos, George, Estevao, Gittens
Quarter-final Cardiff City Cardiff City Stadium W 3-1 Garnacho 2, Neto
Semi-final 1st Arsenal Stamford Bridge L 2-3 Garnacho 2
2025/26 stats all competitions
Goals:Joao Pedro 12, Fernandez 11 (5 pens), Neto 7, Estevao 6 (1 pen), Garnacho 6, Caicedo 5, Palmer 5 (2 pens), Chalobah 3, George 3, Delap 2, Guiu 2, Gusto 2, James 2, Own goals 2, Acheampong 1, Buonanotte 1, Cucurella 1, Gittens 1, Hato 1, Santos 1, Tosin 1
Assists: James 6, Gittens 5, Joao Pedro 5, Fernandez 4, Neto 4, Santos 4, Garnacho 3, Gusto 3, Buonanotte 2, Cucurella 2, Estevao 2, W Fofana 2, Guiu 2, Palmer 2, Caicedo 1, George 1, Hato 1, Sanchez 1
Milestones
Enzo Fernandez made his 150th appearance for the club in all competitions against West Ham.
Arsenal stats
Since December 6, Arsenal have only lost to Manchester United in all competitions, with 12 wins (one via a penalty shoot-out) and two draws.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side have won one game (against Kairat Almaty) in their past three home games in all competitions (one draw, one defeat) and have conceded five goals in the last two of those.
Arsenal have won 29 of their 37 matches in all competitions this season including one on a penalty shoot-out (five draws, three defeats).
Arsenal have reached the League Cup semi-final for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in the last 18 seasons. Last term Newcastle beat them 4-0 on aggregate at this stage.
Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal’s top scorer this season with 11 goals in all competitions.
Best seasons in the League Cup
Winners: 1986/87 (beat Liverpool 2-1), 1992/93 (beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1)
Runners-up: 1967/68, 1968/69, 1987/88, 2006/07, 2010/11, 2017/18
Arsenal’s run to 25/26 League Cup semi-final
Round Opponent Venue Result Scorers
Third Port Vale Vale Park W 2-0 Eze, Trossard
Fourth Brighton Emirates W 2-0 Nwaneri, Saka
Quarter-final Crystal Palace Emirates D 1-1 (8-7 pens) Lacroix OG
Semi-final 1st Chelsea Stamford Bridge W 3-2 White, Gyokeres, Zubimendi
Arsenal's last five results
Date Competition Opponent Result
17 January 2026 Premier League Nottingham Forest D 0-0
20 January 2026 Champions League Inter Milan W 3-1
25 January 2026 Premier League Man United L 2-3
28 January 2026 Champions League Kairat Almaty W 3-2
31 January 2026 Premier League Leeds United W 4-0
Mikel Arteta’s managerial record v Chelsea
Won: 9
Drawn: 4
Lost: 2
Arsenal line-up from League Cup semi-final
Wednesday 14 JanuaryChelsea 2-3 Arsenal
Team (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard (c) (Merino 68), Zubimendi, Rice (Havertz 82); Saka, Gyokeres (Gabriel Jesus 82), Trossard Martinelli 67)
Discipline
There are no suspensions heading into this game. Plus after the League Cup quarter-finals, all yellow cards are cleared so players begin the semi-finals without previous card accumulations and remain eligible for the final.
Match officials
Referee: Peter Bankes
Assistants: Edward Smart, Blake Antrobus
Fourth official: Thomas Bramall
VAR: James Bell
Assistant VAR: Daniel Robathan
Peter Bankes is officiating his fourth Blues match this season, all away from Stamford Bridge, having already refereed our games at Manchester United, Burnley and Fulham.