Arteta on 2025/26 EFL Cup semi-final and Carabao Cup ‘mission’

Mikel Arteta has described it as his “mission” to knock Chelsea out of the EFL Cup and hand Arsenal the first major trophy in almost six years as the Gunners look to move on from what he described as a “painful” semi-final exit last season.

Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for the first leg of their last four fixture, in which Arteta could be without four defenders.

Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera are all ruled out, while there are significant doubts over William Saliba’s fitness, potentially forcing Arteta to play a makeshift backline.

Chelsea vs Arsenal: Arteta in EFL Cup semi-final

The competition takes on particular importance for Arteta following last season’s 4-0 aggregate defeat to Newcastle at the same stadium.

The defeat was compounded by a Champions League semi-final defeat and finishing 10 points behind Premier League winners Liverpool in second place, leaving the 2019/20 FA Cup as Arteta’s only trophy since taking charge.

Arsenal enter the fray competing on four fronts, leading the Premier League and the Champions League table and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 victory at Second Division Portsmouth on Sunday.

“Football gives you another chance,” Arteta said. “We have once again been very consistent in this competition and now we have to eliminate another great team to reach the final. That is our mission.

“I hope we learned from last year because it was painful, especially in the way the matches were played and the number of chances we missed. So this year we want to be better and more efficient.”

Arsenal Trophies: Arteta ‘belief’

Arteta believes lifting the trophy could have a transformative effect on his team.

“When you get to this stage of the competition, you get to the final, and you cross the finish line and win, it brings a different type of energy,” he said.

“It brings confidence and the feeling that the goal is very, very close and it’s a huge motivation for everyone.”

Christian Norgaard is an option to replace Gabriel in the center if Saliba is not available. Leandro Trossard, author of seven goals this season, is also doubtful.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine matches but face a Chelsea side reinvigorated by the arrival of new head coach Liam Rosenior, who began his tenure with a 5-1 FA Cup victory at second division Charlton Athletic.

This is Rosenior’s first home game since being named Chelsea manager.