Wednesday 10th January 2018 Kick off 2000hrs Chelsea v Arsenal Football – England – League Cup It was arguably the game of the season when Arsenal hosted Chelsea last week as the sides played out an incredibly entertaining 2-2 draw. The result done little for their aims in the league but it set us all up perfectly for this two legged semi final in the League Cup. Games between the clubs rarely need any extra incentive or added edge, but the fact there is a place in the final of the first domestic competition of the season only adds to what’s at stake in a London derby where there is very little love lost.
Chelsea would have been targeting a defence of their title and a good run in the Champions League as their main priorities this season, with the League Cup much lower down that list. Now into January and it’s clear that those aims have changed somewhat considering what’s happened in the first half of the season. With Manchester City looking to have created an unassailable led at the top of the table, the Blues will now be focusing on trying to win every piece of silverware available to them, including the League Cup. It’s been a case of home comforts being the best for Chelsea in their passage to the semi finals, with all three previous round being played at Stamford Bridge. A 5-1 win over Nottingham Forest was then followed with consecutive 2-1 successes against Premier League opposition in the shape of Everton and Bournemouth respectively. The win over Bournemouth in the quarter finals was the biggest scare they have been given so far and having drawn away to Norwich in the FA Cup on Saturday, there is plenty to suggest that the Blues are not quite at their best just now and will have to improve to see off Arsenal over two legs.
Arsenal slumped to yet another embarrassing defeat on Sunday, this time in the FA Cup. Arsene Wenger opted to rest a number of his key players without even including them on the bench. Still, it was a team packed full of internationals who took the field but the same old criticisms that have been levelled at Arsenal teams for years surfaced once again. The lack of character, fight and desire were all evidence and the fact that the 4-2 final score flattered the Gunners says it all. Considering this was a Nottingham Forest team who have struggled for any sort of form in the Championship and have only recently sacked their manager, the Arsenal supporters expected and deserved much better. Turning attentions to this game and a visit to Chelsea at least gives the team a chance to atone for that dismal display at the City Ground. Arsenal have fielded teams of a similar standard in this competition, to the one that was humbled against Forest. That’s one of the reasons as to why they have laboured to single goal margin victories over Doncaster, Norwich and West Ham, all of which have been at home as well. They, too, have to find more in order to progress from this round.
Chelsea v Arsenal Betting Tip
This will be the third meeting between these two already this season, with the fourth to come in a fortnight’s time. Due to Arsenal’s exit from the FA Cup, the return at the Emirates later this month will be the last time for the 2017/18 campaign. To date, there has been nothing to separate the two in terms of results with the meeting at Stamford Bridge ending in a drab, goalless stalemate whilst the draw last week could not have been much more different in terms of entertainment, but the points were still shared. The team selections both managers opted to field away to lower league opposition at the weekend in the FA Cup would suggest that this game took greater priority and that’s no real surprise due to the nature of the fixture itself and the fact both are only a tie away from contesting a final at Wembley.
Few teams can afford to fritter away this type of opportunity so close to silverware and these two are certainly not in that position. Chelsea’s title defence was rather pitiful whilst Arsenal can now no longer rely on the FA Cup bailing them out as it has done in three of the last four seasons. I fully expect both managers to field strong teams in this one and treat it with the respect they do a Premier League fixture. Neither outfit are in great form just now with Chelsea winning two of their last five and Arsenal only once. The Blues can boast an excellent home record, though, having encountered most of their problems on the road. Antonio Conte’s men have won their last nine home games in domestic competition and they can take advantage of what will almost certainly be a frail and vulnerable Arsenal team.
Chelsea 8/11 @ Betfred
