Carabao Cup Semi Final second legs previewed, Arsenal v Chelsea, Man City v Newcastle.
Arsenal vs Chelsea | Man City vs Newcastle
Two semi-finals, two very different puzzles.
One tie sits on a single-goal margin where one moment can swing the night. The other looks more settled on paper, but football has a habit of turning “comfortable” into “uncomfortable” very quickly.
Here’s a full preview of both Carabao Cup semi-final second legs, including first-leg recaps, tactical setup, team news, predicted starting XIs, and final predictions on who reaches Wembley.
Tuesday night sees Arsenal host Chelsea with the Gunners leading 3-2 after a pulsating first leg at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago.
Then on Wednesday holders Newcastle United travel to the Etihad to take on Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola’s City team leading 2-0 from the first leg at St. James’ Park.
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Tuesday 3 February 2026 | Emirates Stadium | 8pm GMT
Aggregate: Arsenal lead 3-2
Arsenal head into the second leg with a narrow advantage after a dramatic first meeting at Stamford Bridge.
How the game unfolded:
Arsenal made a fast start, taking the lead through a set piece as Ben White powered home early. That goal immediately shifted the rhythm of the tie, forcing Chelsea to chase the game.
After the break, Arsenal doubled their lead when Gyökeres finished from close range following sustained pressure. At that point, the visitors looked close to taking full control of the semi-final.
Chelsea responded with urgency and quality. Garnacho struck twice to haul the home side back into contention, using his pace and directness to unsettle Arsenal’s back line. With momentum swinging, Martin Zubimendi’s goal proved crucial, restoring Arsenal’s cushion and ensuring they left west London with a one-goal aggregate lead.
Arsenal’s challenge is psychological as much as tactical. Sitting too deep risks inviting pressure, while over-committing leaves space for Chelsea’s counter-attacks.
Expect Arsenal to:
Set pieces remain a major weapon, particularly against a Chelsea side that struggled with organisation in the first leg.
Chelsea need one goal to level the tie and two to win it outright. That reality shapes everything.
They are likely to:
If Chelsea score first, the tie becomes volatile very quickly.
Bukayo Saka remains a doubt after picking up an issue in the warm-up before the Leeds match, while Mikel Merino continues to be assessed after a foot problem. Arsenal may need to adjust their attacking balance if Saka is unavailable.
Chelsea have concerns over Jamie Gittens, while Tosin Adarabioyo has been working back from a hamstring injury. Romeo Lavia is progressing but may not yet be ready to start.
GK: Kepa
RB: Timber
CB: Saliba
CB: Gabriel
LB: White
CM: Rice
CM: Zubimendi
AM: Ødegaard
RW: Madueke
ST: Gyökeres
LW: Martinelli
GK: Sanchez
RB: Gusto
CB: Badiashile
CB: Fofana
LB: Cucurella
CM: Caicedo
CM: Enzo Fernández
RW: Garnacho
AM: Palmer
LW: Neto
ST: João Pedro
This feels like a classic second leg shaped by the first goal.
Pretty much how this tie goes will be decided by which team scores first. Expect a tight first half but as the game wears on, Chelsea to push on to get the goal they need to level the tie. That could expose Chelsea’s defence against Arsenal’s pacy attack.
Prediction: Arsenal 1–1 Chelsea
Aggregate: Arsenal win 4–3 and reach the final
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Wednesday 4 February 2026 | Etihad Stadium | 8pm GMT
Aggregate: Man City lead 2-0
Manchester City produced a controlled away performance at St James’ Park to establish a commanding advantage.
Key moments:
City dominated long spells of possession and gradually wore Newcastle down. Semenyo opened the scoring after sustained pressure, while a late goal from Cherki in stoppage time significantly altered the complexion of the tie.
Newcastle had moments, including chances from transitions and set pieces, but struggled to create sustained pressure against City’s compact defensive structure.
City do not need to chase the game. Expect:
An early City goal would effectively end the contest.
Newcastle’s task is brutally simple and brutally difficult:
They are likely to press high early, but that approach leaves space behind for City’s forwards to exploit.
GK: Trafford
RB: Nunes
CB: Khusanov
CB: Alleyne
LB: Aké
CM: Bernardo Silva
CM: O’Reilly
RW: Semenyo
AM: Foden
LW: Doku
ST: Haaland
GK: Pope
RB: Trippier
CB: Botman
CB: Thiaw
LB: Hall
CM: Joelinton
CM: Guimarães (if fit)
CM: Ramsey
AM: Willock
ST: Barnes
LW: Gordon
Newcastle can cause problems, but the margin for error is tiny. City hold a 2-0 lead and are playing at home. Newcastle may find the net, but City should have more than enough quality to get the job done here without too much duress.
Prediction: Man City 2–1 Newcastle
Aggregate: Man City win 4–1
Arsenal and Man City to reach the Carabao Cup Final.
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