Arsenal vs Chelsea live: Gunners hold slim lead in fight to reach Carabao Cup final as Palmer and Garnacho benched | OneFootball

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Mikel Arteta defends Arsenal's style of play

Arsenal host Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-finals at the Emirates Stadium this evening, with these two London rivals competing for a place in the first final of the season in March.

Liam Rosenior’s side travel across the capital trailing 3-2 from the first leg after a dramatic match in which they clawed back a 2-0 deficit before going on to lose.

But the Blues have been in fine form since, winning all of their last five games, though the nature of the performances has been questioned, with Chelsea having trailed West Ham 2-0 before winning last weekend.

And tonight they face an Arsenal side that will likely punish any slips in concentration, with the Gunners hoping to make their first League Cup final since 2018 as they look for the perfect start to a potential quadruple-winning campaign.

Mikel Arteta has ‘book of people’ who feel Arsenal are ‘most exciting in Europe’

Mikel Arteta has launched a passionate defence of Arsenal’s style of play by revealing he has a “massive book of people” who feel his side are the “most exciting in Europe”.

Arsenal are six points clear at the top of the Premier League, and through to the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners after tasting victory in all eight of their matches.

Arteta’s men are also just one game away from next month’s Carabao Cup final. They meet Chelsea in the second leg of their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night holding a 3-2 advantage from the opening rubber.

Mikel Arteta has ‘book of people’ who feel Arsenal are ‘most exciting in Europe’

The Gunners have attracted criticism for their perceived reliance on goals from corners and set-pieces but boss Arteta has defended his side.

Chris Wilson3 February 2026 19:10