Arsenal face defensive doubts with William Saliba injured and Riccardo Calafiori still weeks from a return, while Piero Hincapie is also sidelined. Punters should consider backing both teams to score or Chelsea to net at Stamford Bridge, and avoid heavy stakes on an Arsenal clean sheet.
Arsenal hit by defensive doubts ahead of Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge
William Saliba is a major doubt for Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final after picking up a problem that could rule him out of the clash at Stamford Bridge. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed Saliba’s uncertainty alongside the potential absence of Leandro Trossard for the visit to west London.
Riccardo Calafiori remains some way off a return after pulling up in the warm-up for the Brighton game on 27 December. Arteta described Calafiori’s recovery as slow-moving: ‘He’s progressing, but we don’t know. A few weeks, probably, but we don’t know exactly yet.’
Key absences and recent context
Gabriel Magalhaes has recently returned from injury and has paired with Arteta’s preferred centre-half when available, but Saliba’s possible absence would force another reshuffle. Calafiori has not featured since the earlier Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace and is now into a fifth missed match. Piero Hincapie, who had been an option at left-back, picked up a hamstring issue and is also unavailable for the fixture.
Selection and tactical consequences
Arteta must consider reshaping his defensive unit for a high-stakes cup tie. Potential short-term solutions include promoting academy options at full-back or shifting defensive midfield cover into a back three, depending on fitness tests. Losing Saliba would likely reduce Arsenal’s aerial solidity and defensive coordination, increasing the chance of Chelsea testing the visitors more frequently.
Betting implications
Injury uncertainty in Arsenal’s backline makes a clean-sheet wager for the visitors riskier than usual. Punters may prefer: - Backing both teams to score (BTTS) or Chelsea to score at least once. - Avoiding heavy stakes on Arsenal to keep a clean sheet. - Considering small-stake single bets on Chelsea to score or alternative market plays such as total goals over 1.5/2.5, depending on odds. Monitor late team news and match-day confirmations before placing significant bets.
What to watch before kick-off
Look for final fitness updates from Arsenal on Saliba, Hincapie and Calafiori in the hours before kick-off. Their availability will shape Arteta’s selection and the tactical approach for a fixture that is likely to be tight but could open up if defensive makeshift solutions are used.
William Saliba and Leandro Trossard are injury doubts for Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Metro
