Head-to-head

Chelsea and Arsenal meet for the seventh time in the League Cup and third at the semi-final stage of the competition. We have won four of the previous six.

Chelsea vs Arsenal in the League Cup

1976/77 Fourth round (a) L 2-1 Hay
1997/98 Semi-final (a) L 2-1 M Hughes
1997/98 Semi-final (h) W 3-1 M Hughes, Di Matteo Petrescu
1998/99 Fourth round (a) W 5-0 Leboeuf pen, Vialli 2, Poyet 2
2006/07 Final (n) W 2-1 Drogba 2
2013/14 Fourth round (a) W 2-0 Azpilicueta, Mata
2017/18 Semi-final (h) D 0-0
2017/18 Semi-final (a) L 2-1 Hazard

Chelsea have won one of our past 13 games in all competitions against Arsenal since January 2020. The sole victory in that time came at the Emirates Stadium in August 2021, when two first-half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Reece James secured the three points.

After winning five consecutive home matches between 2013 and 2017 - all in the Premier League - Chelsea have not won any of our last six matches at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal (three draws, three defeats).

Our last home win against the Gunners was in August 2018, when Maurizio Sarri’s side won 3-2 in the Premier League.

Chelsea have played more games against Arsenal (212) than against any other opponent, 13 more than against Liverpool and 14 more than versus Manchester United. This match will be our 99th meeting at Stamford Bridge in all competitions.

Head-to-head (all competitions)

Played 212
Won 66
Drawn 62
Lost 84

Last five meetings at Stamford Bridge

20 April 2022 Premier League L 4-2 Werner, Azpilicueta
6 November 2022 Premier League L 1-0
21 October 2023 Premier League D 2-2 Palmer pen, Mudryk
10 November 2024 Premier League D 1-1 Neto
30 November 2025 Premier League D 1-1

Biggest win for each team:

Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal 2013/14 Premier League
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea 2023/24 Premier League
Arsenal’s biggest win at Stamford Bridge was 5-1 in 1930/31 in Division One

Chelsea stats

Liam Rosenior is the first Chelsea head coach to win their first game in charge since Antonio Conte in 2016. The 5-1 scoreline was the biggest win on debut of any manager in our history. The next best was when Luiz Felipe Scolari won his first game 4-0 in 2008.

Saturday's result was our biggest away win in the FA Cup since 2016, when we beat MK Dons in the fourth round by the same score.

Chelsea have progressed to the League Cup final from 10 of our last 16 semi-finals, including the past three. Arsenal were the last team to knock us out at this stage, in 2017/18. The Blues are aiming to reach our 11th League Cup final.

Chelsea are competing in the semi-final of a major cup competition for the 63rd time, 17 of which have been in the League Cup. We have lifted the trophy five times, most recently in 2015, and only Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have won it more often. Arsenal have won it twice, in 1987 and 1993.

Chelsea's last five League Cup semi-finals

Chelsea's run to the 2025/26 semi-finals

Third round Lincoln City (a) W 2-1 George, Buonanotte
Fourth round Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) W 4-3 Santos, George, Estevao, Gittens
Quarter-finals Cardiff City (a) W 3-1 Garnacho 2, Neto

Milestones

Chelsea reached a milestone in the FA Cup against Charlton Athletic, when Enzo Fernandez scored our 800th goal in the competition with his penalty.

Arsenal stats

Best seasons in the League Cup

Winners: 1986/87 (beat Liverpool 2-1), 1992/93 (beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1)
Runners-up: 1967/68, 1968/69, 1987/88, 2006/07, 2010/11, 2017/18

Since Arsenal lost at Aston Villa on 6 December, they are unbeaten in nine league and cup games (eight wins, one after a penalty shoot-out and one draw).

Liverpool are the only side to stop Arsenal from scoring this season in all competitions (31 games). The Reds have managed clean sheets in both of their Premier League games against the Gunners this season.

Arsenal have won 25 of their 31 matches in all competitions this season (including one on a penalty shoot-out). Their two defeats were at Liverpool in August and at Aston Villa in December. Of the others, only Manchester City, Sunderland, Chelsea and Liverpool have avoided defeat with draws.

Arsenal have reached the League Cup semi-final for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in the last 18 seasons. Last term, Newcastle United beat them 4-0 on aggregate at this stage.

Arsenal's run to the 2025/26 semi-finals

Third round Port Vale (a) W 2-0 Eze, Trossard
Fourth round Brighton & Hove Albion (h) W 2-0 Nwaneri, Saka
Quarter-finals Crystal Palace (h) W 1-1 (8-7 pens) Lacroix own goal

Mikel Arteta’s management record vs Chelsea

Won: 8
Drawn: 4
Lost: 2

Last five results

Brighton (h) W 2-1
Aston Villa (h) W 4-1
Bournemouth (a) W 3-2
Liverpool (h) D 0-0
Portsmouth (FA Cup, a) W 4-1

Carabao Cup quarter-final line-up

Arsenal 1-1 (8-7 pens) Crystal Palace
Tuesday 23 DecemberTeam (4-3-3): Kepa; Timber, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Merino (c), Norgaard, Eze (Odegaard 67); Madueke (Saka 67), Jesus (Rice 86), Martinelli (Trossard 59(
Scorer: Lacroix own goal 80

Discipline

Moises Caicedo is suspended for one match for reaching two yellow cards in the Carabao Cup.

In the Carabao Cup all single yellow cards are wiped clean after the quarter-final stage so players start the semi-finals with a zero count for accumulation.

Match officials

Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long
Fourth official: Andrew Kitchen
VAR: Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood

Simon Hooper is officiating his second Blues match this season, having already refereed our 3-1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in September.