Fresh from big wins for their opening FA Cup ties, Liam Rosenior Chelsea go clash Arsenal for Wednesday EFL Cup semi-final first leg for Stamford Bridge. Chelsea don waka pass Cardiff City for quarter-final, while Arsenal need penalties to beat Crystal Palace last eight.
Match Preview
Chelsea 3-1 win over Cardiff for EFL Cup quarter-final na Enzo Maresca last win before him wahala with board. Before him waka, Maresca don win small games against Lincoln City and Wolves.
This week na first home game for Chelsea for 2025-26 EFL Cup. When dem reach semi-finals for recent years, Blues dey usually waka go Wembley, win four of last five semis, exception na Arsenal 2017-18.
Arsenal visit na Liam Rosenior first top-flight opponent for Chelsea since e change squad, after Chelsea thrash Charlton Athletic 5-1 for FA Cup third round. Chelsea dey score and concede seven matches in row across competitions, while dem don score for each of last 12 home matches.
Last year for EFL Cup semi-final, Chelsea lose Arsenal, Sarri team later lose Man City for final. Kepa Arrizabalaga famous for drama, stop Maxence Lacroix penalty as Arsenal beat Palace.
Arsenal dey on three fronts, don win eight of last nine games, including 4-1 FA Cup win over Portsmouth with Gabriel Martinelli hat-trick. Chelsea dey home strong, but Arsenal don score 13 games in row on road, including 1-1 draw with 10-man Chelsea in November. Arsenal never lose Stamford Bridge since August 2018.
Team News
Moises Caicedo dey suspended after collecting second yellow for EFL Cup, so no go play Arsenal. Marc Cucurella dey available after one-match ban. Mykhaylo Mudryk (doping), Romeo Lavia (thigh) and Levi Colwill (knee) still out. Malo Gusto, Reece James, Cole Palmer dey fit but left out weekend as precaution. Rosenior go try field strongest side.
Arsenal side, ex-Chelsea Kai Havertz don return from knee injury as substitute, Viktor Gyokeres still likely starter. Hincapie (thigh), Calafiori (muscle), Dowman (ankle), Mosquera (ankle) dey out. Saliba and Trossard doubt. Kepa go likely start again for goal.
Possible Lineups
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; James, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Delap
Arsenal: Kepa; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
We Say
Chelsea and Arsenal go likely draw 1-1 for first leg. Arsenal don show say dem fit hold Chelsea before, so Gunners fit happy with draw. Both teams get rest and big players ready, but e hard to know how Rosenior impact go be after only one win vs lower-league side, so no sure say Blues go get first-leg advantage. Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal.
