Chelsea vs. Arsenal live score: Carabao Cup semifinal result, updates, stats as White gives Gunners early lead

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Liam Rosenior faces a stern early test of his coaching credentials as Chelsea boss, with Premier League leaders Arsenal visiting Stamford Bridge in the semifinals of the Carabao Cup.

Rosenior got his Chelsea tenure off and running with a 5-1 win at Charlton Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup. This first-leg encounter precedes a Premier League debut for the former Strasbourg coach in another all-London clash with Brentford.

Arsenal were similarly comfortable winners at Portsmouth in the FA Cup, meaning they remain firmly in contention across all four competitions.

The two teams shared a gripping 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on November 30, a result that preceded a collapse in form for Chelsea and Enzo Maresca's eventual departure.

AllSportsPeople is following the Chelsea vs. Arsenal match live, providing score updates and commentary

Chelsea vs. Arsenal live score

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Simon Hooper

Starting lineups:

Chelsea (4-2-3-1, right to left): Sanchez (GK) — Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella — Fernandez, Andrey Santos — Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto —Guiu

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): Kepa (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber — Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice — Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

MORE: Newcastle vs. Man City score: Carabao Cup semifinal 1st leg result, stats as Semenyo and Cherk give Guardiola's men advantage

Chelsea vs. Arsenal live updates, highlights, and commentary

23 mins: Fernandez needlessly bundles Odegaard over in a crossing position. You're playing Arsenal, pal. Get a clue.

16 mins: Chelsea come out of this Arsenal corner intact as the referee spots a foul.

15 mins: Chelesa scrambling as Zubimendi gets forward on the break. Gyokeres holds play up before going for goal himself. It's deflected behind.

12 mins: Fernandez lines up an attempt from about 25 yards that curls gently into Kepa's gloves.

10 mins: This is the 23rd time Arsenal have scored first in a game this season. They've won every won of the previous 2-2. Yikes.

7 mins: GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Ben White!!!

Set Piece FC strike again. Rice's corner loops over a flapping Sanchez and White nods home unmarked. That's Arsenal's 24th goal from a set piece this season and very probably their easiest.

3 mins: Corner to Chelsea on the left. Fernandez swings it in, looking to catch Kepa out, but it hits the side-netting at the near post.

Kickoff: 1st Half

Declan Rice, who represented Chelsea as a schoolboy, gets Arsenal underway. They go long, Gyokeres makes a nuisance of himself and Saka drills a low cross at a tumbling Sanchez.

5 mins: The teams are in the tunnel and the atmosphere is crackling. Here they come.

30 mins before kickoff: Liam Rosenior has made bold, positive communication a feature of his early days in charge at Chelsea, and tonight is no exception. He's been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.

I would love to be here for six years and longer. In order for that to happen I need to win. It's as simple as that.

I've got ideas of what I want the team to look like in a year or two or three years time. But I think I have got enough resources and tools with me now to win. I've made that clear to the players.

Every session that I take, every meeting that I take, every game that we play is the most important thing. I'm not making it [Arsenal tie] any bigger than the fact it's the next game - and we have to win.

1 hour before kickoff: Chelsea have no equivalent to Arsenal's good Saliba news. Reece James, Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer are all out after late checks. There's no Cole Palmer, either. Marc Guiu leads the attack with Joao Pedro playing as the No. 10. Andrey Santos, who thrived under Rosenior at Strasbourg, partners Enzo Fernandez in central midfield.

Our starting XI 🆚 Arsenal! ✊#CFC | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/RujhzhwGKg

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 14, 2026

1 hr 15 mins before kickoff: The teams are in. William Saliba starts for Arsenal. Leandro Trossard gets the nod on the left wing despite Gabriel Martinelli's weekend hat-trick at Portsmouth.

🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️

🧱 Saliba and Gabriel at the back
⚓️ Zubimendi and Rice holding it down
⚡️ Trossard on the wing

COME ON YOU GUNNERS ✊

🤝 Presented by @deel

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 14, 2026

1 hr 30 mins before kickoff: When Chelsea battled to a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge at the end of November, the post-match conversation centred around whether the Blues were the most likely Premier League challengers to Arsenal. However, that was the start of a run of two wins in nine matches across all competitions that cost Enzo Maresca his job. There is one bit of continuity, though. Moises Caicedo, who was sent off in that match, is suspended tonight.

2 hours before kickoff. Hello and welcome to AllSportsPeople' live coverage of the Carabao Cup semifinal, first leg between Chelsea and Arsenal. Manchester City won 2-0 at Newcastle in the first leg of the other semifinal on Tuesday. Can either of these London giants claim a similarly imposing advantage?

Chelsea vs. Arsenal kick off time

The Carabao Cup semifinal, first leg off in London at 8 p.m. Local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Chelsea vs. Arsenal lineups, team news

Rosenior said he would make late checks on Cole Palmer, Reece James  and Malo Gusto  after all three sat out the Charlton game. They all miss out, along with Liam Delap​​​​​​. In the latter's absence, Marc Guiu  starts at centre forward, with Joao Pedro  as the No. 10.

Mosies Caicedo  misses out through suspension as he serves the second match of a two-game ban for yellow card accumulation. Andrey Santos, who thrived under Rosenior at Strasbourg, starts alongside Enzo Fernandez in central midfield.

Chelsea starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Sanchez (GK) — Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella — Fernandez, Andrey Santos — Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto —Guiu

Chelsea subs: Jorgensen (GK), Badiashile, Adarabioyo, Hato, Essugo, Buonanotte, Garnacho, George, Mheuka

Kepa Arrizabalaga  is set to start against his former club as Mikel Arteta's preferred cup goalkeeper.

William Saliba  and Leandro Trossard  sat out the Portsmouth match, but both start. The Gunners will be relieved Saliba has pulled through, with Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie remaining among the defensive absentees.

Arsenal starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Kepa (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber — Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice — Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Arsenal subs: Raya (GK), Jesus, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Merino, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly

Chelsea vs. Arsenal live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions: