Chelsea welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening. The game can be seen live on Sky Sports main event, and below you can find our match preview and best bets.
Best Bets & Predictions
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marc Cucurella to be carded | 5/2 @ Betfair (28.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Marc Cucurella has already been booked twice in the League Cup this season, but will return to the starting line-up after his suspension against Charlton. The Spaniard will be looking to get under the skin of the Gunners on Wednesday, an opponent he has already been carded against this season when the pair met in the Premier League earlier this season. |
| Declan Rice Anytime Assist | 11/2 @ Bet365 (15.4%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Declan Rice has provided an impressive seven assists for club and country this season. The midfielder can put the ball on a six-pence and it’s no secret how effective Arsenal can be from his set-pieces. With odds of 11/2 only implying a 15% chance of success. We feel are getting a nice bit of value here in what could be a high scoring affair. |
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How both teams go into Chelsea vs Arsenal
Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Cardiff City in the EFL Cup quarter finals now reads very differently with hindsight. What seemed routine at the time turned out to be Enzo Maresca’s final victory as head coach, coming only weeks before his relationship with the board collapsed. Before his departure, he had also guided Chelsea past Lincoln City and Wolverhampton Wanderers in earlier rounds, results that kept their League Cup run alive ahead of their first home match of the 2025–26 competition.
The Blues have often gone deep in this tournament, winning four of their last five EFL Cup semi finals, with Arsenal providing the lone setback in 2017–18. That history adds weight to the Gunners’ visit, which will be Liam Rosenior’s first Chelsea fixture against Premier League opposition. His reshaped side arrive after a convincing 5-1 FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic, a result that ended a poor run of form. Chelsea’s season remains unpredictable, marked by goals at both ends, as they have scored and conceded in seven consecutive matches and found the net in each of their last 12 games at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal are now just three matches away from a long awaited League Cup triumph, and there is a sense that this could finally be their moment. Mikel Arteta’s side have fallen short at this stage before, losing semi final ties to Liverpool in 2021–22 and to Newcastle United last season, but belief is growing that experience may now work in their favour.
The Gunners remain active on multiple fronts and continued their strong form at the weekend, overturning an early deficit to beat Portsmouth 4-1 in the FA Cup. That victory marked eight wins from their last nine games in all competitions and featured Gabriel Martinelli’s first hat trick for the club. Arsenal have also been reliable scorers away from home, finding the net in 13 consecutive road matches, including a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in November. That result extended their unbeaten run against Chelsea to eight games, with Arsenal not having lost there since August 2018.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea will be without Moises Caicedo for Arsenal’s visit after the midfielder picked up his second yellow card of the League Cup against Cardiff, triggering a suspension. Marc Cucurella is back in contention after serving his ban, but Caicedo joins Mykhaylo Mudryk, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill on the absent list.
Liam Rosenior is expected to name his strongest available side despite rotating heavily at the weekend. Malo Gusto, Reece James and Cole Palmer were rested as a precaution and are not thought to have any fitness issues.
Arsenal team news
Kai Havertz returned from a knee injury as a substitute at the weekend, but Viktor Gyokeres is still expected to lead the line despite his recent struggles. Arsenal are monitoring the fitness of Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera, while teenage prospect Max Dowman remains sidelined with an ankle problem.
Mikel Arteta has continued to back Kepa in the cup competitions, and the goalkeeper is likely to keep his place despite a shaky moment against Portsmouth, with his manager still showing clear faith in him.
Head-to-Head
Last 6 Meetings
Arsenal have dominated recent encounters, remaining unbeaten in the last five and winning two of the last three away at Stamford Bridge. The most recent clashes have often been tight but rarely dull, with goals at both ends a common feature.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 30/11/25 | Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 16/03/25 | Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea | Premier League |
| 10/11/24 | Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 23/04/24 | Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea | Premier League |
| 21/10/23 | Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal | Premier League |
Conclusion
Will Chelsea’s attacking aggression finally overcome Arsenal’s defensive mastery, or will the Gunners’ clinical finishing and recent dominance in this fixture win out again? Marc Cucurella to be carded at 5/2 catches the eye for the main bet.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
