Wednesday evening's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge is set to be heavily impacted by a lengthy list of absentees from both camps. As many as thirteen players could miss the crucial tie, with Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer among the major doubts.
Injury Crisis Hits Both London Giants
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, despite strong Premier League form, travel to west London without several key figures. The defensive line is particularly hard-hit, with William Saliba and Leandro Trossard both doubts after missing the weekend's FA Cup win over Portsmouth. They join a significant injury list that includes long-term absentees.
Piero Hincapie is likely out after a thigh injury against Liverpool, while Riccardo Calafiori is still weeks away from fitness after getting hurt in a warm-up. Cristhian Mosquera and Max Dowman are also sidelined with ankle problems, leaving Arteta with considerable selection headaches.
Rosenior's Rocky Start at Chelsea
For Chelsea, new manager Liam Rosenior's early tenure is being tested. Although he began with a 5-1 FA Cup victory over Charlton, he faces the prospect of being without several first-team stars for his first major cup test. The situation surrounding Cole Palmer is "touch and go", with Rosenior stating a decision on his fitness, along with that of Reece James and Malo Gusto, would be made closer to kick-off after giving them extra recovery time.
The Blues' unavailable list is extensive. Mykhaylo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended by the FA following a failed drugs test in December 2024. Romeo Lavia is out with a hamstring issue, and Levi Colwill is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season with an ACL injury. Dario Essugo has returned to training from a thigh problem but is not yet match-fit.
Semi-Final Advantage Up for Grabs
This injury crisis for both sides turns the first leg into a battle of squad depth as much as tactical prowess. Securing an advantage ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium becomes paramount, but managers will be forced to rely on fringe players and academy graduates.
The sheer scale of potential absences—thirteen players across both teams—threatens to overshadow the build-up to one of the season's most anticipated cup fixtures. All eyes will be on the team sheets released at 18:45 GMT on Wednesday to see which stars ultimately make the cut for this high-stakes London derby.
