A ticket to Wembley is on the line on Tuesday night as Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium for the crucial second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Arsenal comes in with a narrow 3–2 aggregate lead after a thrilling first leg at Stamford Bridge. In that match, goals from Ben White, Viktor Gyökeres, and Martin Zubimendi outscored two goals from Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho.
As the current Premier League leaders, Arsenal aims to reach their first League Cup final since 2018. Historically, only two teams in 32 previous attempts have lost the first leg of an EFL Cup semi-final away and failed to reach the final.
Chelsea, under Liam Rosenior, arrives in strong form, having won five consecutive matches, including an impressive comeback against West Ham over the weekend. Since Rosenior took charge, Chelsea has won six of their first seven matches, performing well in their away EFL Cup fixtures this season.
Arsenal vs Chelsea – Match preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 3 February 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
- Referee: Peter Bankes
- VAR: James Bell
- Last Meeting: Chelsea 2–3 Arsenal (14 Jan 2026), League Cup
Team News
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is uncertain about Bukayo Saka’s availability due to a hip injury sustained during warm-up against Leeds. The injury is not believed to be serious, and Noni Madueke is ready to start after a strong showing on the weekend. Midfielder Mikel Merino is out and will undergo surgery for a foot fracture. Max Dowman remains injured, but Riccardo Calafiori and Jurriën Timber are fit to play.
Chelsea
Chelsea is facing key absences in wide positions. Estêvão Willian is on leave in Brazil, making him a doubt for the match, while Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is out with a foot injury. Goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen is close to returning, but Robert Sánchez will likely start. Long-term injuries include Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Dário Essugo, and Roméo Lavia.
Form
Arsenal
Arsenal is performing well, recently defeating Leeds United 4–0, maintaining a six-point lead in the Premier League. They have a strong record at the Emirates, winning their last three home games against Chelsea, scoring nine goals and conceding just one. The team is unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Chelsea across all competitions (W6 D3), their best run since 2004.
Chelsea
Liam Rosenior has had a successful start, winning six of his first seven matches. Chelsea is coming off an exciting 3–2 comeback win against West Ham, showcasing the determination Rosenior has instilled. Historically, Chelsea has succeeded in three of their last four EFL Cup semi-finals after losing the first leg and seeks to avoid losing both legs of a semi-final for the first time since 1991.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal Predicted XI: Arrizabalaga; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
Chelsea Predicted XI: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
How to Watch Arsenal vs Chelsea?
The match will be shown live in the UK on ITV1, Sky Sports Main Event, and Sky Sports Football, starting at 19:00 GMT before the 20:00 kick-off.
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