Arsenal predicted XI vs Chelsea – Eight changes made as Gyokeres starts amid Timber role change

Viktor Gyokeres and Jurrien Timber predicted to start for Arsenal against Chelsea with eight changes made for the League Cup semi-final first leg.

Arsenal take on Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge, looking to secure an important result before the two sides return to the Emirates Stadium in February. The Gunners’ record for scoring goals in semi-finals under Mikel Arteta is not great reading; a 4-0 aggregate loss to Newcastle United at the same stage last season and a 3-1 aggregate defeat to PSG in the Champions League semi-final last season.

They failed to score against Liverpool in either leg of the 2022 semi-final, but times have now changed. Arteta has plenty of quality to call upon in the Arsenal side and was able to rest plenty of his starting stars at Portsmouth on the weekend.

He can make as many as 11 changes to that side should he so wish, but there are some players still working their way back to fitness, which might therefore restrict some changes. Here is how football.london predicts the Gunners to set up this evening:

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Despite making his first error in the game against Portsmouth, with a poor save that led to the first goal, the Spaniard remains the cup goalkeeper.

Ben White

The England international enjoyed a good performance against Pompey, and due to the lack of options elsewhere, the full-back can continue against the Blues.

William Saliba

Mikel Arteta listed the Frenchman as a doubt, citing the reason being he’s not been fit enough but there is just a sense from me that Saliba will make it.

Gabriel Magalhaes

The Brazilian, like his centre-half partner, is another who missed the last game and will be a big factor in the outcome of the semi-final in both legs, particularly from set-pieces.

Jurrien Timber

With the form of Myles Lewis-Skelly being something of a concern, to face Chelsea, and with several players on the left still absent, the Dutchman is an option for the opposite side having played there in the past.

Martin Zubimendi

The anchor of the Arsenal midfield returns and will hope to avoid an early booking, as he got in the previous meeting, which heavily restricted his output.

Declan Rice

The box-to-box midfielder has been fully rested ahead of this game and, therefore, should be fit and firing to take down Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Martin Odegaard

In the best form of the season despite a dip against Liverpool, but this Chelsea game is a chance for the skipper to show he can step up in these big games.

Bukayo Saka

Another who was rested over the weekend and should be fit, ready and potentially newly-renewed in terms of his contract, to take on Chelsea.

Viktor Gyokeres

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both featured against Portsmouth, while Gyokeres sat the game out from the bench but will be expected to start.

Leandro Trossard

Arteta has a real difficult decision on his hands as he has a fully rested Leandro Trossard to choose from or Gabriel Martinelli, whose hat-trick downed Pompey and has suddenly found serious form. Despite being labelled a doubt, again, the hope will be he makes it.