Arsenal welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, holding a 3-2 advantage from the first meeting at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago. Mikel Arteta's side sit top of the Premier League with 53 points from 24 matches, while new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior—appointed in early January—has his fifth-placed Blues trailing by 13 points in the league. The Gunners enter as clear favourites to reach the final, though Chelsea's recent surge in form makes this a far from straightforward assignment.
Arsenal have won three of their last five matches across all competitions, including an emphatic 4-0 victory at Leeds and a 3-1 triumph over Inter Milan in the Champions League. The home defeat to Manchester United (2-3) remains a concern, and Mikel Merino's foot injury leaves the midfield light. Bukayo Saka's hip issue adds further uncertainty ahead of this crucial tie. Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz have driven the attacking output, combining for double figures in goals this season.
Chelsea arrive at the Emirates riding a five-match winning streak across league and European competition. Liam Rosenior has overseen victories against West Ham (3-2), Napoli away (3-2), Crystal Palace (3-1), Pafos (1-0), and Brentford (2-0) since taking charge. Cole Palmer, with 41 goals in 83 Chelsea appearances, remains the focal point of their attack after returning from a minor thigh strain. The absences of Levi Colwill (ACL) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspension) limit squad depth.
These rivals have met twice already this season, sharing a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in November before Arsenal's 3-2 away win in the first leg. The Gunners have scored in each of their last six meetings with Chelsea and hold a slight historical edge in cup encounters at the Emirates. With aggregate advantage secured, Arsenal can afford to play with patience—something Arteta's defensive structure allows.
I'm backing Both Teams To Score at 1.70. Arsenal have scored in 22 of their 24 Premier League games this season, while Chelsea have found the net in eight straight matches across all competitions. The first leg produced five goals, and both sides boast attacking talent capable of breaking down organised defences. The xG projection (2.11–1.42) supports a 2-1 finish.
