PREVIEW: Out-of-sorts Chelsea host Arsenal in Carabao Cup semi-final first leg

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Chelsea aim to continue a positive start under Liam Rosenior against Arsenal in tomorrow night’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have only won one in their last five matches in all competitions, but enter the clash on the back of Rosenior’s 5-1 debut victory over Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.

The Blues’ 3-1 quarter-final win at Cardiff City came less than a month before the end of Enzo Maresca’s tenure, a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in football.

The former Strasbourg head coach signaled his readiness for the clash against the Gunners, who edged past Crystal Palace on penalties with the game at 1-1 after full time.

He said: “We’ve been working tactically on Arsenal from the moment I came into the club.

“We’ve watched all their games, analyzed every aspect of their game, including set-plays, which they’re very good at. We know what an important game it is.”

The sides last met in the league in November, drawing 1-1 despite Chelsea being reduced to ten men following Moisés Caicedo’s red card for a rash challenge on Mikel Merino.

But the home side will take encouragement from having dominated their eight meetings in the Carabao Cup, winning four and drawing one.

The home side will be without Levi Colwill, who is absent with a cruciate ligament tear, while Romeo Lavia and Caleb Wiley are ruled out due to muscle injuries.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have won four of their last five matches across all competitions.

They go into the clash having cruised to a 4-1 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the third round of the FA Cup, despite going a goal down early on.

Mikel Arteta is expecting his side to have learned from their “painful” 4-0 defeat on aggregate to holders Newcastle United, who face Manchester City, at this stage last year.

He said: “Hopefully we have learned from last year because it was painful, especially in the manner that the games went, and the amount of chances we missed to go through.

“So this year we want to be better and more efficient.”

Arsenal will be without their exciting 16-year-old winger Max Dowman due to an ankle injury.

The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.

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