Chelsea v Arsenal live: Carabao Cup latest score and goal updates from semi-final as Palmer and James add to Blues’ injury crisis

FIRST CORNER, FIRST GOAL! Ben White heads in Rice’s cross!

6 mins: Pedro is dropping deep into midfield, leaving Guiu with the unenviable task of taking on Gabriel tonight. The young Spaniard is involved in an early tussle with the giant defender that does not go his way.

3 mins: Cucurella wins an early corner for Chelsea. Enzo Fernandez looks to loft it towards the front post and under the crossbar, but puts it into the side-netting.

1 mins: Almost a very quick start from Arsenal as Saka skips around Cucurella from the long pass and tries to cut a ball back from the byline. Saka v Cucurella is a key battle tonight.

Underway at the Bridge! It’s a big night for Liam Rosenior as he takes charge of his first home game, and for Arsenal as they look take a step closer to winning a first trophy in six years.

Before kick-off, we had a minute’s applause for the late Chelsea and Scotland left back Eddie McCreadie, who won the 1976 League Cup with the club and passed away a couple of days ago.

“Who hates Tottenham… Chelsea” sing the home fans.

Arsenal fans, feel free to join in…

Liam Rosenior says Chelsea have “been through the wars” in the past couple of days due to injury and illness, with Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens ruled out this afternoon and Reece James now dealing with a hip problem. Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer are also unavailable. They are up against it.

The players are in the tunnel as we approach kick-off.

Just under 10 minutes until kick-off here at the Bridge – and the atmosphere is slowly building on a cool evening in west London. Cue the lightshow.

Thankfully, it’s not the freezing sub-zero weather we’ve seen since 2026 started!

Mikel Merino’s second-half equaliser rescued a point for Arsenal here in the Premier League in November, even though they played the majority of the contest a man up after Moises Caicedo’s sending off.

Caicedo is also suspended for tonight’s clash.

James is present at Stamford Bridge, but is not fit enough to start.

He’ll be watching alongside Cole Palmer, also absent for Liam Rosenior.