A new era starts at Stamford Bridge tonight as Liam Rosenior debuts at home as Chelsea’s manager. He faces Premier League leaders Arsenal in a crucial Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Rosenior made headlines with a 5-1 win over Charlton on Saturday, marking the biggest debut victory for any Chelsea manager. However, he now encounters a challenging Arsenal team that has not lost to Chelsea in their last nine matches. Mikel Arteta’s squad holds a six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League and aims for trophies.
They want to end a six-year wait for a trophy, beginning with a competition where they experienced heartbreak in the semi-finals last season. Playing at home, Chelsea needs to overcome a “Bridge Jinx,” having not won their last six home games against Arsenal.
Chelsea vs Arsenal – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
- Referee: Simon Hooper
- VAR: Jarred Gillett
- Last Meeting: Chelsea 1–1 Arsenal, 30 November 2025, Premier League
Team News
Chelsea
Chelsea will be missing Moises Caicedo, who is serving a one-match ban after two yellow cards in the tournament. Decisions about Cole Palmer, Reece James, and Malo Gusto will be made after the final training session, as they were rested recently. Mykhaylo Mudryk is under a doping suspension, and Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill are recovering from injuries.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has a defensive challenge as Piero Hincapié (hamstring) and Riccardo Calafiori (muscle) are both out. William Saliba and Leandro Trossard are late doubts for this match. On a brighter note, Kai Havertz returns from a long-term knee injury. Kepa Arrizabalaga may start in goal against his former team, although Arteta did not confirm in the press conference.
Form
Chelsea
Chelsea ended a three-match winless streak with a 5-1 win over Charlton in the FA Cup. Despite recent inconsistency, they historically perform well in League Cup semi-finals, having progressed from four of their last six encounters with Arsenal. Chelsea has scored and conceded in their last seven matches, showcasing their attacking skills and defensive issues under new management.
Arsenal
Arsenal arrives at Stamford Bridge in good form, currently leading the Premier League by six points. They overcame a tough start to beat Portsmouth 4-1 last Sunday, extending their unbeaten streak across all competitions. However, Arsenal has faced difficulties in semi-finals, having been eliminated in their last four appearances at this stage, the longest such streak in club history.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea predicted XI: Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, James; Estêvão, Fernández, Neto; Delap
Arsenal predicted XI: Kepa; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli
How to watch Chelsea vs Arsenal?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage starting at 19:00 GMT.
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