Chelsea vs Arsenal: will anyone be able to gain an edge in the first leg?
The first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final brings us a clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. The match will take place on Wednesday, 14 January, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 CET, and I am offering a betting pick for this encounter.
Chelsea vs Arsenal: match facts and head-to-head
- Chelsea have won only one of their last six matches.
- Chelsea have scored at least one goal in nine consecutive matches.
- Chelsea have also conceded at least one goal in nine consecutive matches.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in nine straight matches: one draw and eight wins.
- Away from home, Arsenal have won four matches in a row.
- This season, Arsenal score in both halves in 42% of their matches, while Chelsea do so in 29%.
- Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in half of their matches this season.
- Chelsea have not won a single match this season without conceding.
- In the most recent head-to-head meeting, Chelsea and Arsenal played out a 1–1 draw.
Chelsea vs Arsenal: match preview
Chelsea began 2026 with a change of head coach. They dismissed Enzo Maresca and appointed Liam Rosenior. He made his debut in the role in the previous match against Charlton, where Chelsea secured a 5–1 victory. Notably, Chelsea have scored in every match this season. In the EFL Cup, the Blues entered at the third round, beating Lincoln 2–1, then edging Wolverhampton 4–3 and overcoming Cardiff 3–1.
Arsenal have been moving very convincingly through this season and are the main contenders for the English league title. The Gunners also started in the third round, where they defeated Port Vale 2–0, then beat Brighton by the same scoreline, 2–0, and progressed past Crystal Palace in a penalty shoot-out. In the league, Arsenal sit top of the table with 49 points after 21 rounds, holding a six-point lead over Manchester City.
Probable line-ups
- Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; James, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Delap
- Arsenal: Kepa; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Prediction
We are set for a tense encounter at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea tend to perform solidly. I expect to see several goals in this match and therefore recommend a bet on both teams to score in this fixture. The odds for this outcome are 1.69.
