Mikel Arteta has called Arsenal's EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea a key 'mission' to secure the club's first major trophy in nearly six years. The Gunners face the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, amid injury concerns for both sides. New Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior sees the match as a chance to build momentum in his first home game.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is determined to guide his team past Chelsea in the 2025/26 EFL Cup semi-final first leg, viewing it as a vital step toward silverware. Speaking ahead of the Wednesday clash at Stamford Bridge, Arteta emphasized the competition's importance following last season's painful 4-0 aggregate defeat to Newcastle at the same stage. "Football gives you another chance," Arteta said. "We have been really consistent again in this competition and now we have to knock another big team out to be in the final. That is the mission."
Arsenal enter the tie in strong form, unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions and leading both the Premier League and Champions League standings. They advanced in the FA Cup with a 4-1 win over second-tier Portsmouth on Sunday, where Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick despite 10 changes to the lineup. However, defensive woes loom: Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie, and Cristhian Mosquera are ruled out, with William Saliba's fitness in doubt, potentially forcing Christian Norgaard to partner Gabriel at center-back. Forward Leandro Trossard, who has seven goals this season, is also questionable.
For Chelsea, it's new manager Liam Rosenior's first home match after succeeding Enzo Maresca last week following the Italian's 18-month tenure. Rosenior, aware of the pressures at the club, stated, "I’d love to be here for six years and longer but I’m aware that, for that to happen, I need to win." Chelsea recently thrashed second-tier Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the FA Cup, but face absences including a one-match ban for Moises Caicedo, hamstring issues for Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo, and a long-term knee injury for Levi Colwill. Doubts surround full-backs Malo Gusto and Reece James, plus forward Cole Palmer, who were rested for the cup win. Winger Mykhailo Mudryk remains sidelined since November 2024 due to an FA suspension over an alleged adverse drug test finding.
Arteta praised Rosenior, noting, "I know people who have worked with [Rosenior]... and they talk really highly of him." The sides have met 212 times historically, with Arsenal unbeaten in their last six visits to Stamford Bridge. The return leg is scheduled for February 3.
