Carabao Cup draw live: Chelsea could face Arsenal as Man City and Newcastle learn semi-final opponents | OneFootball

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Maresca hasn't spoken with Chelsea hierarchy after 'worst 48 hours' remark

The Carabao Cup semi-final draw set up a potential blockbuster tie between Chelsea and Arsenal, but only if the Gunners can overcome Crystal Palace next week.

Chelsea were the first team to book their place in the last four, surviving a scare at Cardiff as Enzo Maresca’s substitutes powered the Blues to a 3-1 win.

However, Arsenal’s clash with Crystal Palace will not take place until next Tuesday after it was rescheduled due to fixture congestion.

The other semi-final match-up sees holders Newcastle face Manchester City, who respectively saw off Fulham and Brentford to book their place in the last four. Chelsea and Newcastle will be the home teams for the first legs before going away for the second legs.

The semi-finals are the only round of fixtures in the Carabao Cup to take place over two legs. The first legs will take place in mid-January and the second legs will be in early February, before the final at Wembley on 22 March.

Carabao Cup semi-final draw in full

Here’s the full Carabao cup draw detail then:

Semi-final 1

Chelsea vs Arsenal OR Crystal Palace

Semi-final 2

Newcastle United vs Manchester City

Semi-final first-leg ties will be played in the week commencing 12 January, with the second-leg matches taking place in the week commencing 2 February.

The final will be held at Wembley on 22 March 2026.

Chris Wilson18 December 2025 00:00

Why is Arsenal vs Crystal Palace being played next week?

The Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace will take place next week rather than this week with the rest of the ties after it was rescheduled due to a fixture pile-up.

Palace faced the mildly ludicrous prospect of playing four games in eight days when the calendar reaches mid-December – hosting Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday 14 December before the Carabao Cup clash with the Gunners on Tuesday 16 December (yesterday), a Conference League match against Finnish side KuPS two days after that and then a league game against Leeds to round off the hellish week on Sunday 21 December.

Eagles boss Oliver Glasner had slated the proposed fixture schedule and claimed it would be harmful to his players.

And Palace were given something of a reprieve, with the quarter-final being moved to Tuesday 23 December instead, as both teams confirmed.

Here’s the full story:

Arsenal v Crystal Palace clash rescheduled from ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ date

The Carabao Cup quarter-final will be played a week later than originally planned after strong complaints from Palace

Chris Wilson17 December 2025 23:50

Newcastle keep Carabao Cup defence alive with added-time Lewis Miley winner

Lewis Miley’s stoppage-time header sent Carabao Cup holders Newcastle into the semi-finals with a 2-1 win against Fulham.

Yoane Wissa, making his first full start since arriving on Tyneside in the summer, put the Magpies in front with his maiden goal for the club, but Sasa Lukic soon nodded the Cottagers level.

The game looked set for penalties after a cagey second half, but 19-year-old Miley headed home from a corner to secure Newcastle’s spot in the final four as they bounced back from their derby defeat to Sunderland at the weekend.

Newcastle keep Carabao Cup defence alive with added-time Lewis Miley winner

Newcastle 2-1 Fulham: Miley’s late header earned a home victory over the Cottagers after Sasa Lukic cancelled out Yoane Wissa’s long-awaited first goal for the Magpies

Chris Wilson17 December 2025 23:40