Carabao Cup 2025-2026: Arsenal-Chelsea, the likely lineups
After the spectacular 3-2 win in the first leg, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal hosts Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in the Carabao Cup return semifinal to decide who will break through for the Wembley final. The Gunners start with the advantage of the result, but the Blues have already shown they can strike at any time, dragged by a Joao Pedro in a state of grace in recent outings between league and cup. Everything will be decided over the 90 minutes, and if at the end of the match the overall scoreline is tied, it will be directly the penalty kicks that will decide the finalist. The winner will face in the final one between Manchester City and Newcastle (defending champions), engaged Wednesday night in the’other semifinal.
The weight of history will be felt on both sides. If Arsenal is chasing a trophy that has been missing since as far back as 1993, Chelsea has a hunger for redemption after the disappointments of recent years. Indeed, the Blues are aiming to dispel the heavy taboo of lost finals: between the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, the London club is coming off a losing streak of six consecutive finals without success.
Arteta has to deal with the delicate issue related to Bukayo Saka: the English outside back from a last-minute forfeit against Leeds remains the big question mark of the match. Although the alarm seems to have subsided, Saka could initially sit on the bench, making way for a fit-again Madueke. In the midfield weighs the absence of Mikel Merino, expected to be out for a long stop, while Kepa is confirmed between the posts. The real formation doubt, however, concerns the offensive terminal; it is a tight ballot between Gabriel Jesus’s experience and Viktor Gyökeres’s overflowing physicality to lead the Gunners’ attack.
After the partial turnover in the derby against West Ham, Rosenior is ready to put the heavy artillery back on the field. The mainstays of the team return from the first minute: Reece James and Cucurella will regain possession of the side lanes, while Joao Pedro will lead the offensive department. However, there is no shortage of sore notes from the infirmary: in addition to Lavia and Colwill, the coach will also have to do without Jamie Gittens, who has stopped again due to a new physical problem. Against this emergency backdrop, all eyes will be on Cole Palmer, the talent to whom Chelsea is entrusting its hopes of overturning the deficit of the’first leg and winning a ticket to Wembley.
Probable lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Kepa; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard. Coach: Arteta.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Garnacho, Palmer, Pedro Neto; Joao Pedro. Coach: Rosenior.
