Arsenal vs. Chelsea, League Cup: Confirmed lineups; how to watch

Can Chelsea come back from a 3-2 deficit in the second leg?

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 03: Signs asking to keep off the grass on the pitch before the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on February 03, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) | Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Welcome to the second leg of the League Cup semifinal!

Chelsea trail by one from the first leg, 3-2, so we need to do something we haven’t done in nearly half a decade, beat Arsenal. There’s no away goals rule: it’s extra-time and penalties if we’re tied on aggregate after 90 minutes. To the winner, a trip to Wembley against (probably) Manchester City in the final. To the loser, nothing.

Liam Rosenior has had a brainwave and we’re going with something different, at least based on the starting XI. We’ll see how it all shakes out. No Reece James in the squad (“being rested”). Estevao’s back from Brazil and on the bench, as is 16-year-old Academy midfielder Charlie Holland.

Here we go!


Arsenal starting XI:
Kepa | Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres

Substitutes from: Raya, Mosquera, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly

Chelsea starting lineup (3-5-2/5-3-2?):
Sanchez | Hato, Chalobah, Fofana | Cucurella, Enzo (c), Santos, Caicedo, Gusto | Joao Pedro, Delap

Substitutes from: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Badiashile, Holland, Palmer, Estevao, Garnacho, Guiu, Mheuka


Date / Time: Tuesday, February 3, 206; 20.00 GMT; 3pm EST; 1:30am IST (next day)
Venue: Emirates Stadium, N7
Referee: Peter Bankes (on pitch); Jamie Bell (VAR)

On TV: ITV1 (UK); none (USA); none (India); SuperSport Premier League, Canal+ Sport 3 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: ITVx (UK); Paramount+ (USA); FanCode (India); DStv Now (NGA)


Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!

Category: General Sports