Chelsea will host Arsenal in a mammoth EFL Cup semi-final first-leg clash at Stamford Bridge, as Liam Rosenior faces a big Mikel Arteta test.
Liam Rosenior took over Chelsea after a turbulent few weeks at the club following the sacking of Enzo Maresca, and the first test comes against Arsenal. The English coach, previously with Chelsea’s sister-club RC Strasbourg, was chosen as the man to take this team forward, signing a long-term deal.
While the 41-year-old saw his new team lose to Fulham last weekend from the stands, Rosenior managed to secure a victory in his very first game in charge. Chelsea overcame Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup to move into the fourth round, where they will face Hull City away from home in the next round.
Rosenior will be eager to test his credentials in the Premier League, but before that, he must maneuver a tough challenge ahead in the Carabao Cup, as his Chelsea side hosts Arsenal. It is a big test for the new Chelsea boss, who will hope his team takes an advantage into the second leg at the Emirates with a composed performance at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal once again showcased they are ready to compete on all fronts this season, as they brushed aside Championship side Portsmouth away from home in the FA Cup. The Gunners have now set up a home clash against Wigan Athletic in the next round, but Mikel Arteta will swiftly want the focus shifted to the upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
The Gunners are into the last four courtesy of their victory over Crystal Palace in the quarterfinals. Unlike Chelsea, who dispatched their opponents with ease, the Gunners had to endure a tough period as Crystal Palace equalised late in the game to take the game to penalties.
Arteta will want to take advantage back to the Emirates for the second leg, and for that, his team must put in an accomplished performance at Stamford Bridge. There is certainly pressure on Arsenal to perform on all fronts, but at the moment, they are probably the most in-form team in the land.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Liam Rosenior had some interesting updates on some of Chelsea’s key stars, as he cast doubts over Cole Palmer, Reece James and Malo Gusto. The trio were left out of the FA Cup clash this past weekend, with the new boss insisting they could be touch-and-go for the Arsenal clash. The wider expectation is for the trio to turn up fit, as losing them would be a massive blow for Chelsea in the context of this game.
One player who is certainly missing for Chelsea against Arsenal is influential midfielder Moises Caicedo, after picking up a yellow to trigger a one-match suspension in the last game. However, on the positive side, Marc Cucurella is available after serving a one-game ban for his red card against Fulham last week.
In any case, the hope will be for the doubtful trio to play, as Rosenior will name a strong lineup for this clash, with Gusto and Cucurella marshalling the full-back areas. James is expected to form a midfield partnership with Enzo Fernandez, with Palmer playing in the advanced role.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Delap
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta was happy to have Kai Havertz back to full fitness and playing a role in their win over Portsmouth. The German forward featured for the first time since the opening day of the Premier League, and could get more minutes against his former side, Chelsea.
Given how heavily Arteta rotated his pack for the FA Cup trip, there is an expectation for some of those stars to return. Those could include Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, among others.
There are some injury concerns at the moment with this Arsenal squad, especially in the defensive zones, as Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie are expected to sit out, as well as Cristhian Mosquera. Timber should replace Ben White at right back, while Saliba should resume his partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, while Myles Lewis-Skelly is pencilled to start at left-back.
Gabriel Martinelli should ideally keep his place on the left flank following his hat-trick against Portsmouth, while Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres will complete the attacking setup. Similarly, Odegaard should be able to replace Eberechi Eze to resume his partnership with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi in the Arsenal midfield.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Gyokeres
Key Stats
- Chelsea have drawn their last three home matches against Arsenal in all competitions.
- Chelsea have scored and conceded in each of their last seven games across all competitions.
- Arsenal are undefeated in their last nine matches against Chelsea in all competitions.
- Arsenal are undefeated in 13 games across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Reece James
The Chelsea man is a key part of this team, as new boss Liam Rosenior will hope he turns up fit for this semi-final first-leg clash against Arsenal. There is pressure on the Blues to deliver a good result and take an advantage into the second leg at the Emirates, as Reece James will be key to how they perform in this big game.
Given that Moises Caicedo will miss out on this clash owing to a suspension, there is a lot more pressure on James. Chelsea fans will remember the last time the two teams played, when the Ecuadorian midfielder was sent off, and James put in a masterclass of a display, as they will hope for something similar or better this time around.
Prediction
Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal
Chelsea’s hopes in this game might rely on the fitness of their key stars, such as Reece James, Cole Palmer and even Malo Gusto to an extent. Even if those players return, the Blues are still slightly the underdogs in this one, ans Arsenal may have a big advantage even away from home.
The Gunners have a good record at Stamford Bridge, where they have not lost since 2018, and Mikel Arteta will want to stamp his authority and take an advantage into the second leg. The Gunners have many of their key stars rested and returning for this clash, which might benefit them, as they are expected to win this first leg by a slender margin.