Chelsea vs. Arsenal / Carabao Cup – Second semi-final pair of the English League Cup should be far more interesting as two great rivals will face each other, Chelsea and Arsenal. The two teams met just seven days ago in the league and then they drew at the Emirates 2-2, which allowed third-placed Chelsea to maintain seven-point advantage over sixth-positioned Arsenal. Let’s add that the Gunners won the Super Cup match, while in the league the two teams drew at Stamford Bridge 0-0. Begins: 10.01.2018 – 21:00 CET
Chelsea
It means that this is their fourth head-to-head this season, while in two weeks they will play the 2nd leg of the League Cup semi-finals, so the reigning champions of England will surely give their best to finally win the Gunners on Wednesday evening. However, in order to do so coach Conte players must be far more aggressive than they were in their league match and recently played match in the FA Cup, when they merely drew 0-0 with Norwich away.
True, Conte had experimented a lot then with the team, while against Arsenal he should send on the pitch the strongest available line-up, led by Hazard and Morata. The Blues brought occasional member of English national team midfielder Barkley from Everton, but at the moment he is not fully ready and will probably watch the match from the stands, just like experienced stopper Luiz who is very close to leave Chelsea.
Probable lineups Chelsea: Courtois – Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill – Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso – Hazard – Morata
Arsenal
Unlike Chelsea that last weekend managed to pull off second match with Norwich in the FA Cup their city rival Arsenal lost away to another second-division team Nottingham Forrest by even 4-2, which only deepened their crisis. Before the defeat the Gunners had drawn three times in league and won just once, so at the moment they occupy mere sixth place in the table, having two points fwer than fifth-positioned Tottenham and five less than fourth-placed Liverpool.
It should be said that Arsenal played practically with its 2nd team in the FA Cup, and on top of it they couldn’t count on injured defenders Koscielni, Monreal and Kolasinac, midfielders Ramsey, Xhaka and Cazorla, and forward Giroud. Besides, Arsenal’s coach Wenger was suspended by the English Football Association because of constant complains about work of referees, which is why he cannot be on the bench in match with Chelsea, and is certainly an additional handicap for the Gunners.
Probable lineups Arsenal: Cech – Chambers, Mustafi, Holding – Bellerin, Coquelin, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles – Ozil, Sanchez – Lacazette
Chelsea – Arsenal TIP
Having in mind that the Gunners have plenty of problems with absences at the moment and are additionally shaken after being eliminated from the FA Cup it is not difficult to come to conclusion that the reigning champions of England shouldn’t miss a chance to win the first semi-final match of the League Cup.
Prediction Today: Chelsea wins
Odds: 1.80
