Chelsea make the short trip across London for tonight’s crunch semi-final clash against Arsenal as we look to battle it out for a place in the final of the Carabao Cup.
The Blues failed to score during their dominant home display at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, and will now have to come and beat us at the Emirates to have any hope of reaching the final.
Manchester City booked their place with a 3-2 victory (5-3 on aggregate) over Bristol City last night, and the Sky Blues will be keeping an eye on tonight’s match-up to find out who they will have to beat to lift the League Cup.
Bookmakers are struggling to pick a favourite for the tie, with both sides available at bigger than 6/4 to win inside the 90 minutes, but you would have to say with home advantage we should be taking this down.
Our opponents come into the match without Spanish duo Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata, taking a huge chunk of our opponents attacking talent out of the tie, and this could well play into our hands.
We will be without Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck for the tie, but should welcome back Aaron Ramsey and Nacho Monreal, who are both much more important to our starting line-up. The former may well have to stay on the bench to accommodate the thoroughly impressive Jack Wilshere, but could play a part in the match later on.
Predicted XI:
Ospina
Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
Bellerin Xhaka Wilshere Maitland-Niles
Ozil Iwobi
Lacazette
This team should have more than enough in it to bring the game to Chelsea, although it remains to be seen whether Wenger will be fielding his best possible XI, an option he has neglected to take in this competition on many occasions.
Should this team start the match, I would expect us to win, and a 2-1 win over the 90 minutes would be my prediction.
Would the above line-up make us favourites to qualify? Will Wenger choose his best XI for the encounter?
Pat J
If Arsenal keep hazard quiet, we will win.
My main concerns is Xhaka losing his focus and not tracking runners and AMN being rinsed (he gets caught out of position often). If there is good and regular communication tonight from Koscielny to these two players, we will win.
well Xhaka is good at passing and crossing but when comes to defending like marking and tackling hes very weak….
Xhaka is more suitable to be a creative midfielder, in a more advanced position. This season would be his last chance to prove whether he is worth to play as a starter or not.
Wish this was true but when Wenger loves someone, it’s a different story, he becomes blind and deaf. Remember Ramsey? He played like sh*t for 2 or 3 years but every time the line up came out, his name is written in capital letters and bold
Ramsey you say? Well at least he has guts and workrate and has not stunk the place completely out for twelve long years on scandalously high and unearned wages. Weed Walcott would therefore have been a far better example to use for Wengers blue eyed boys. BUT thanks to Mislantot there are definite signs of Wenger being by passed, leading to his sacking in May, fingers crossed.
We won’t play until Tuesday next week so we need to play our best XI. Kolasinac should play ahead of AMN.
Santi out until 2019. His contract runs down in the summer, time to let him go.
Really hope Kolasinac starts over AMN!!
Disagree
Agreed … Hyped Talk of NM another sign of fan desperation … Not that he is bad but he is a long long way from being a regular in a top 6 team … Needs to go on loan to championship side for next 4 months to see if he can muscle it at that level and learn to b more disciplined in passing and effort
Aubam welcome to The Emirates stadium !
Not sure that deals down yet mate ?
Rather like welcoming July when still in January, is your inaccurate post!
Chelsea are a very tired side.
Wont win the ECL.
Playing for 3rd place in the PL.
Manager is returning to Italy in July.
Chelsea are very vulnerable right now.
Arsenal 5-0
????
only five 🙂
play kolasinic ahead of Niles iz better option pls
Niles over Kolasinac anyday.
Agree
Now that the greedy and selfish Sanchez is out – Arsenal fans should embrace themselves for the kind of beautiful football that we used to play. Our 4th goal against Palace over the weekend was just an example of things to come.
Please please please play a decent team… no excuse not to as we’re not playing at the weekend ?
Come on Arsenal lets do this!! COYG
We need to play a full strength team- let’s get another victory and build on the Palace win.
If we can contain Chelsea’s fast breakaways we can win
Can’t risk a high line in defence Hazard etc too good on counter attack
“LONDON — Thibaut Courtois has been ruled out of the Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semifinal second leg against Arsenal on Wednesday with an ankle injury, sources have told ESPN FC.”
http://kwese.espn.com/football/chelsea/story/3358706/chelsea-keeper-thibaut-courtois-to-miss-carabao-cup-semi-vs-arsenal
I liked the 4-3-3 system vs Crystal the only change but not to necessary would be AMN as the CDM But I would give Elneny the chance and AMN to subtitute Elneny on the hour.
……….33
24….20…6…18/31
………..35
……10……29
11…………….17
………..9
I almost got it