The managers of Arsenal and Chelsea have provided injury updates on their respective players ahead of Wednesday night’s League Cup semi-final second-leg at the Emirates Stadium. Both sides settled for a dull 0-0 draw in the first-leg at Stamford Bridge, and they have all to play for in the midweek London derby.
Arsenal Injury Update (Official Website):
Wenger did not assert the availability of any of his injured/ill players, but he suggested that both Ramsey (illness) and Nacho Monreal (hamstring) could face late fitness tests ahead of the encounter. Meanwhile, the French tactician affirmed that both Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck are still short of making themselves available for the midweek game. Santi Cazorla remains the only long-term absentee with his recurring Achilles problem threatening to end his playing career.
Chelsea Injury Update (Official Website):
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte had a smaller injury list to contend with Alvaro Morata and Cesc Fabregas set to be the only absentees for the Cup game. Fabregas has been sidelined with a hamstring problem since the goalless draw versus Leicester City, and Morata has joined him in the treatment room after suffering a recurrence of a back problem, which has affected him in recent weeks. Other than this, Thibaut Courtois may return to the first XI after missing the last two matches with a minor ankle knock.
Conte has normally stuck with a similar match-day squad across all competitions, unlike Arsene Wenger, and this could potentially have its toll in the midweek game where the hosts should have fresher players on the field. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal only recently returned to the first-team mix, and this should provide the edge for the north London side, although the Blues could yet play with the same vigour, as displayed in the 4-0 league triumph at Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
Image – Getty
