Arsenal host Chelsea in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, protecting a 3-2 lead from the first leg. Both teams have made changes to their starting lineups amid injuries and recent form. The match kicks off at 20:00 GMT, with Arsenal favored to advance to the final.
Match Preview and Team News
Premier League leaders Arsenal welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium for the decisive second leg of the 2025/26 EFL Cup semi-final. The Gunners secured a 3-2 victory in the first leg at Stamford Bridge on January 14, giving them a slender advantage heading into Tuesday's clash. Arsenal sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, bolstered by a 4-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta has made three changes to his lineup following that Premier League victory. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga replaces David Raya, having featured in every Carabao Cup match so far this season. Eberechi Eze starts in place of Kai Havertz, while Gabriel Martinelli comes in for Leandro Trossard. The backline consists of Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Piero Hincapie, with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi anchoring midfield. Up front, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres join Martinelli in attack.
Notable absences include winger Bukayo Saka, who withdrew during the warm-up before the Leeds game, and midfielder Mikel Merino, sidelined by a foot injury requiring surgery sustained against Manchester United on January 25. Captain Martin Odegaard also misses out. Arsenal's substitutes are David Raya, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Gabriel Jesus, Christian Norgaard, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Chelsea, under new manager Liam Rosenior, have won their last five matches across all competitions, including a dramatic 3-2 comeback against West Ham after trailing 2-0 at halftime. They make four changes from that game: Joao Pedro, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, and Andrey Santos start, while Jamie Gittens is injured, and Cole Palmer, Alejandro Garnacho, and Benoit Badiashile drop to the bench. Reece James is absent from the squad despite a late cameo against West Ham. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen remains sidelined.
Chelsea's starting XI features Robert Sanchez in goal, defended by Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Jorrel Hato, and Malo Gusto. Midfield includes Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos, and Enzo Fernandez, with Cucurella supporting forwards Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. Substitutes: Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Benoit Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Josh Acheampong, Marc Guiu, Estevao Willian, Alejandro Garnacho, Charlie Holland, and Shumaira Mheuka.
Historically, Arsenal and Chelsea have met 213 times, with Arsenal winning 85 and Chelsea 66. This is their seventh EFL Cup encounter and third at the semi-final stage. Arsenal are unbeaten in the last three League Cup meetings, including the last two wins. If level after 90 minutes, the tie proceeds to extra time and penalties, as it's a two-legged semi-final.
The winners advance to the final on March 22, 2026, at Wembley Stadium, earning a UEFA Conference League play-off spot unless qualified otherwise for Europe.
