Arsenal Face Chelsea in EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg as Gyokeres Bids to Seal Final Spot

The stage is set for a tantalising encounter at the Emirates on Tuesday evening as Arsenal seek to finish the job against Chelsea in their EFL Cup semi-final second leg. The Gunners carry a 3-2 aggregate cushion into the tie following a commanding display at Stamford Bridge, where Ben White, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi all found the net.

That first-leg defeat represents the only blemish on Liam Rosenior's impressive Chelsea record, which otherwise reads six wins from seven matches across all competitions. The Blues' recent form has been genuinely encouraging, most notably their 3-2 turnaround against West Ham United at Stamford Bridge, where they recovered from a 2-0 half-time deficit to snatch victory.

Arsenal, meanwhile, arrive in sparkling form themselves. A devastating 4-0 demolition of Leeds United away from home has stretched their Premier League lead to six points, keeping alive their pursuit of a quadruple.

When and where?

The encounter kicks off at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday, 3 February at the Emirates Stadium, with coverage on both Sky Sports Main Event and ITV 1.

Arsenal's injury headaches

Mikel Arteta faces a mounting injury crisis heading into the contest. Bukayo Saka picked up a groin problem during the warm-up before the Leeds fixture and is now a concern for Chelsea, meaning Noni Madueke could retain his berth after impressing with a goal and assist in that commanding victory.

Mikel Merino's absence looms large—a bone fracture sustained in training has sidelined the midfielder for an extended period. Max Dowman remains unavailable following an ankle injury picked up during a December behind-closed-doors friendly.

Riccardo Calafiori is gradually being reintegrated, having managed 45 minutes in the Champions League before a late cameo at Leeds. Martin Odegaard missed the starting lineup against Leeds but made an impact off the bench and will be pushing for reinstatement.

Chelsea's selection puzzle

Rosenior orchestrated a significant rotation against West Ham, with Marc Cucurella, Joao Pedro, Reece James, Pedro Neto and Wesley Fofana all introduced from the bench. The expectation is that this quintet returns to the fold for the semi-final.

Estevao's absence against West Ham came after compassionate leave to Brazil, though Rosenior has indicated he won't rush the 18-year-old back into action for this fixture.

Jamie Gittens suffered a suspected hamstring injury in the 26th minute against West Ham and will miss out. Tosin Adarabioyo's hamstring problem also rules him out, whilst Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia remain sidelined. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen could return to the squad after missing three matches through injury.

Alejandro Garnacho was withdrawn at half-time against West Ham but remains a significant threat after bagging a brace in the first leg.

The numbers tell a story

Historically, Arsenal hold the upper hand. They're unbeaten in their last nine encounters with Chelsea across all competitions—six victories and three draws. In EFL Cup history, only West Ham (1971-72 vs Stoke) and Tottenham (1986-87 vs Arsenal) have been eliminated after winning the first leg away from home.

The most recent EFL Cup meeting between these sides came in 2017-18, when Arsenal progressed 2-1 at home following a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.

Arteta's personal record against Chelsea reads nine wins, four draws and two losses since December 2019, though both defeats have come at the Emirates—a concerning pattern.

However, Arsenal's semi-final pedigree is worrying. They've lost their last four two-legged semi-finals on aggregate, including a 4-0 hammering by Newcastle in the EFL Cup last season. At home in the EFL Cup against Premier League opposition, the Gunners have won just five of their last 15 matches, losing nine.

Chelsea's recent momentum cannot be ignored. They've scored three goals in three consecutive matches and have orchestrated back-to-back comebacks. Alejandro Garnacho has been particularly prolific in the EFL Cup this season—four goals across three appearances.

Enzo Fernandez has also been influential, contributing six goals and two assists in his last ten outings across all competitions. Gyokeres, though, has been equally sharp—four goals in his last six matches make him a threat throughout.

The likely outcome

Chelsea's improvement under Rosenior is undeniable, yet that first-leg deficit leaves them requiring victory. Arsenal's defensive fragility at home—just one clean sheet in their last seven Emirates outings—contrasts sharply with Chelsea's attacking prowess under their new manager. Expect goals at both ends, with Arsenal's experience and aggregate advantage likely to prevail.