Arsenal are one step away from their first final since 2020, but before us Gooners can make any plans for Wembley, they must first finish the job that they started (and probably should have finished) nearly three weeks ago at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal had chances to make the game 4-1, or maybe even 5-1, during a really strong spell and having failed to do so, promptly went on to let in a goal at the other end to give Chelsea a lifeline and a route back into the tie, leaving the score at 3-2 to the Gunners.
On that night, Chelsea were missing the likes of Moises Caceido and Reece James, both of whom have since returned to the fold, so this will be a very different animal we are facing and I’m sure they will come out fighting, making this a real cup tie.
Arsenal do go into the game with a one goal advantage which should ensure that Chelsea don’t sit deep in a low block, which will suit Arsenal, as surely this will afford them more space in which to play.
When the first leg finished, it felt like an opportunity missed to finish the tie off there and then, but I still felt very confident that we’d go through, taking into account how dominant we were on the night, with the gulf in class clear for all to see. Time has some what eroded my confidence, as has the return of Chelsea’s key players, so this now feels like a tie very much in the balance and one that we must win all over again.
Areas of encouragement
The performance and result of the Leeds game was very much needed and will give the players a real shot in the arm ahead of tonight’s game. There will be real hope within the group that they can carry that form into this game and get the job done. Viktor Gyokeres’ much improved numbers and performances, coupled with the return of Kai Havertz, have also made the Arsenal attack look much more potent, which was much needed after the recent struggles in front of goal.
Areas of concern
The Chelsea team that we lineup against tonight will be very different to the one we played in the first leg, so personally I’m a bit concerned about the impact the returning players for Chelsea can have on this team. Arsenal also seem to have gone up another level since then, so if we put in the kind of performance that we know this team is capable of, it should be enough to get the job done. We really need the home support to get behind the team from the off on this one as well. After the past few nervy home games, it would be good to see a different atmosphere for this one, that will in turn feed into the players.
What I’d love to see
It’s a cup semi final so all I really need to see if the team going through!! That said, I’d love to see the performance from the weekend carried into this one, so we can start playing with some real freedom and fluency on a consistent basis.
What I’d hate to see
The lead we carry into this one is obviously a great boost, but it is also quite slender, so I don’t want to see Arsenal giving Chelsea any encouragement in the opening stages. Arsenal need to be on it from the first whistle so I’d hate to see a sloppy, slow paced start.
Lineup and Team News
When there’s a chance at going to Wembley, I’m a firm believer in playing your strongest team and therefore giving you the best chance to go through and I think that’s something that Mikel Arteta shares, as he’s gone relatively strong in all of the cups this year. That said, I think Arteta will still stick with Kepa in goal. I think it would be a big blow for the back-up keeper to be snubbed for this one and Arteta will want to keep everyone in the right frame of mind going into the business end of the season, so he’ll want to be seen to be backing Kepa.
Riccardo Calafiori should start this one, after proving his worth from the bench in the past few matches with Piero Hincapie dropping out at left back. Ben White is another player who needs to be playing regularly, so I think they will bring him in for Timber at right back and then leave the central defensive pairing alone, with William Saliba and Gabriel retaining their places.
Into midfield, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice will almost certainly start, as they always do! The question mark is whether or not Arteta brings Martin Odegaard back into the lineup. I can’t see him dropping the skipper for two games in a row so I think Odegaard will return and that Kai Havertz will move into attack, with Viktor Gyokeres dropping to the bench.
On the wings, Bukayo Saka may be fit, but will not be risked in any case, so Noni Madueke will get another chance to impress against his old team. On the left, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Eberechi Eze given the nod out there, with chances in the centre becoming less apparent. Arteta will probably lean into his regular starters though, with Leandro Trossard being preferred to Gabriel Martinelli.
Predicted lineup:
Arrizabalaga
White
Saliba
Gabriel
Calafiori
Zubimendi
Rice
Odegaard
Madueke
Havertz
Trossard
Substitutes:
Raya
Timber
Mosquera
Lewis-Skelly
Eze
Gyokeres
Martinelli
Saka
Jesus
PREDICTION The form of both teams implies that there will be goals here – and lots of them. I’m therefore going to go against the grain and go for a narrow 1-0 win to Arsen