Arsenal face Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates on Tuesday night, but Mikel Arteta will be without three key players, with Bukayo Saka the most notable absentee.
The Gunners hold a slender one-goal advantage following a 3-2 win in the first leg, where Ben White, Viktor Gyokeres, and Martin Zubimendi canceled out a brace from Alejandro Garnacho.
Arsenal will aim to protect that lead and secure a place in the final, while Chelsea will be looking to overturn the deficit in a fixture expected to be fiercely contested.
Arsenal head into the clash on the back of a victory over Leeds United, and Chelsea will bring momentum from a comeback win against West Ham United. Despite Arsenal’s good form, the absence of key players could affect their rhythm.
Midfielders Max Dowman, sidelined with an ankle injury, and Mikel Merino, out with a fractured foot, will miss the game. But it is Saka’s hip injury that dominates pre-match attention.
“It doesn’t look like something too serious. Whether he’s going to be available for tomorrow or the weekend, we’ll see,” Arteta said during his pre-match press conference.
The England international of Nigerian descent has been central to Arsenal’s attacking play, and his absence could force Arteta to adjust his game plan, relying on Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Martin Ødegaard to control the midfield.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will be looking to exploit any gaps created by Arsenal’s injuries as they chase their first trophy of the season. The Blues face a tough task, but the injuries in the Arsenal squad may give them a slight edge as both teams prepare for what promises to be a thrilling semi-final showdown.
