Emirates awaits a fierce contest as Chelsea battles to overturn a deficit, facing an in-form Arsenal aiming to secure their cup final spot.
Arsenal faces the return leg with a slight advantage following the 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge, a result that reflects the intensity and high tempo of the initial clash. At the Emirates, the Gunners will look to impose conditions from the start, with the idea of managing the game's rhythm and leveraging their offensive power to take a definitive step toward the EFL Cup final.
Chelsea, on the other hand, is obligated to take the initiative. The London team needs a victory and cannot afford to speculate, so an aggressive approach is expected, with high defensive lines and prominence for their attacking players, in a scenario that promises another vibrant chapter between two old rivals.
The statistics support an open match: in six of Arsenal's last seven matches, at least three goals were seen, and in four of those six, both teams managed to score. Chelsea shows a similar pattern, as in six of their eight most recent official matches, the barrier of three goals was also surpassed, with goals from both sides.
Viktor Gyokeres's current form is more than positive: the forward scored three goals in his last four appearances. He was key in the 3-1 win over Inter in Milan and scored again in the thrilling 3-2 victory against Kairat at home in the Champions League. He also featured in the 4-0 rout of Leeds in the Premier League.
Added to that streak is his goal in Arsenal's 3-2 victory over Chelsea in the EFL Cup first leg.
The recent trend shows a favorable start for the Gunners, who managed to be ahead at halftime in three of their last four matches. On Chelsea's side, the picture is opposite, as in their two most recent matches, they were behind at the break. Furthermore, in the last five meetings against the Gunners, the West London team has only managed 2 draws and 3 defeats. This means that to advance to the EFL Cup final, they will have to swim against the tide to overturn the result against a rival who has proven difficult for them over the last two seasons.
The head-to-head history also reinforces this reading: in two of the last three direct clashes, Arsenal had secured a partial victory by the end of the first half.
Join The Conversation
Roundtablesports is Free to join! You can post your own thoughts, comment on articles, and start conversations with our Roundtable Writers. Scroll up to the top of the page and click 'Join'.
Download the FREE Roundtable APP, and get even easier access to your favourite teams and news!