Arsenal travel across London on Wednesday to take on Chelsea for the first leg of the EFL Carabao Cup semifinals.
After making relatively easy work of Portsmouth in the FA Cup on Saturday, the Gunners head
out for the second match of a four match road trip with Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie potentially the biggest of the slate. There’s the obvious importance of Saturday’s Premier League match at Nottingham Forest and the chance to secure the top spot in the Champions League league phase away to Inter Milan next week, but there is a slight bit of wiggle room in those two matches; not much, mind you, but enough to relieve a little pressure. Wednesday’s match, though, potentially puts the Gunners within touching distance of an elusive cup final and their first shot at silverware this season.
After last season’s semifinal exit, the Gunners look to make amends for their shortcomings in the previous campaign. They laid an egg over two legs against eventual cup winners Newcastle, failing to find the net in both matches. Way too much was made about Mikel Arteta’s response to questions about the ball in the aftermath, and the Gunners’ cup failure was predictably used as a rod to beat them with by the media and rivals.
This Arsenal have been a clear cut above last season’s, but familiar issues still persist. Difficulty in front of net for the strikers and injuries in the defense have been ongoing sources of frustration. With those issues still unsolved, the Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge for the second time this season after failing to put a 10 man Chelsea to the sword the first time around. The Blues have a new manager, and certainly a newfound sense of hope that they can ride the new manager bounce to a cup final at the Gunners’ expense.
Can Mikel Arteta’s side continue their determined ways at their rivals’ grounds, steel themselves, and get a result before a return leg at home to get them one step closer to the final?
Here are three talking points ahead of Wednesday’s semifinal match:
Know the Enemy
One day, you’re title contenders, the next, you’re going through yet another manager. Such is life in the blue side of London.
A lot has changed since Chelsea’s emphatic 1-1 victory over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge at the end of November. Instead of being the statement of intent and title charge that far too many of their fans swore it would be, it was the beginning of a massive drop off for the Blues. In their 11 matches since, they have managed only 3 wins, with only 1 against a PL side.
That downturn, as it usually does for them, led to the sacking of Enzo Maresca, who had Not helped matters by by apparently sending feelers out to Manchester City about a potential job opening if Pep Guardiola steps down after this season. Maresca butted heads with the ownership and was sent packing, leading to the surprising hiring of Liam Rosenior, who joined from Chelsea’s farm team French sister club Strasbourg, who also happened to be owned by BlueCo as part of the ever-expanding blight that is the multi-club ownership.
Among a long list of Chelsea managerial appointments, his is certainly one of the more interesting ones. After decent-but-not-great tenures at Derby County, Hull City, and Strasbourg, the decision by Chelsea to hire him has been viewed as a big gamble. Considering their recent manager was also a bit of an up-and-coming hire, it’s not too surprising. But his lack of results in his previous appointments is certainly worth weighing as he is being given the keys to a Premier League power club desperate to be a true title contender once again.
It’s too early to tell how Chelsea will look under Rosenior. In their one match under his leadership this past weekend, they pasted Championship side Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the FA Cup third round, which isn’t really much of a barometer of how they will look going forward against better opposition. They looked a bit more spry on the night, as a team usually does under a new manager and facing lower league opposition.
Still, it is to be expected that the Blues will be looking to make a major statement against the Gunners. The narratives are multiple, and they are obvious – the hope of a new manager bounce, the chance to punch their ticket to a final, and even bigger chance to punch a hated rival in the mouth. Hosting the first leg of the semifinal, they will be desperate to secure a lead before heading to the Emirates for the second leg and gain momentum as the season’s second half rolls on.
They will be at a minor disadvantage, as Moises Caicedo will miss the match for yellow card accumulation. MarC Cucurella, who picked up a red card against Fulham, will be available after serving his one match suspension against Charlton. Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto, and Reece James all missed the FA Cup tie with knocks, but could be available for Wednesday’s match.
Injuries & Suspensions
Saturday’s FA Cup tie was, thankfully, not a terribly physical affair, and the players that featured came out without any major knocks, pulls, twists, or niggles. Arteta indicated that Riccardo Calafiori is still unavailable before the match, with no update on the progress of Cristhian Mosquera or Piero Hincapie. Hopefully all three are on their way to health sooner rather than later.
OUT: Cristhian Mosquera (ankle), Riccardo Calafiori (knock)
DOUBTFUL: Piero Hincapie (hamstring)
Predicted Lineup
Attack: Trossard, Gyökeres, Saka
The Gunners were able to give their usual front three the night off on the weekend at Portsmouth. The return of Kai Havertz complicates the striker position, with Viktor Gyökeres in a poor run of form in front of goal. Regardless, Arsenal have options, and while Kai got a brief runout at Fratton Park, Gyökeres likely gets the start after Gabriel Jesus played for 60 minutes on Saturday.
Midfield: Rice, Zubimendi, Ødegaard
The Arsenal midfield trio have cemented their roles as starters without any other players coming close to supplanting them in the starting XI. And for good reason. Each of them entered the new year in excellent form, but will want to find another level as the multiple competitions start reaching the critical stages. Declan Rice was absent from Saturday’s match, while Martin Zubimendi and Martin Ødegaard made second half cameos.
Defense: MLS, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber
Gabriel Magalhães was the sole starter from the Liverpool match who started against Portsmouth and was largely untroubled. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are shoe-ins for their respective spots. The big talking point in the defense has been the performances of Myles Lewis-Skelly. Since coming on against Liverpool for Hincapie, he has looked a far cry from the confident version that we saw last season. With all of the injuries seeming to hit the left back spot, he is the de facto starter until further notice. Here’s hoping he has shaken off whatever issues have been affecting him and can find his form again.
Keeper: Raya
Kepa has been the cup keeper so far, but I imagine that the Gunners will lean on David Raya away at what will be a hostile Stamford Bridge. Kepa getting the start wouldn’t be a shock, either, and would give him two consecutive starts for the Gunners.
The Carabao Cup isn’t quite the level of silverware that Gunners fans are longing for, but it’s hard to turn your nose up at any opportunity to stamp your name on a trophy when it’s been as long as it has been for Arsenal. Chelsea pose a unique test of focus and mettle for Mikel Arteta’s side. The first meeting was physical and emotional, with the Gunners looking off the mark for most of the match. With a trophy potentially on the line, it will be paramount that the players do not shy from the occasion and let the crowd and moment overwhelm their ultimate goal. Do that, and they can hopefully carry an advantage into a home leg in two weeks’ time.
WHO: Arsenal at Chelsea
WHAT: The EFL Carabao Cup semi-final first leg
WHEN: Wednesday, January 14th, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: Stamford Bridge, London
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming on the Paramount+ app
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