Arsenal vs Chelsea: EFL Cup semi-final second-leg live!

Follow all of the live action from The Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal and Chelsea attempt to book their spot at next month's Wembley final

Laurent Koscielny steps in to stop Eden Hazard (Getty Images)

Arsenal host Chelsea in the second-leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, with both sides hoping to book their spot in February’s Wembley final against Premier League leaders Manchester City.

New signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not make his Arsenal debut as the Armenian forward is cup-tied having played in the competition for previous club Manchester United. But in better news for the Gunners, Aaron Ramsey and Nacho Monreal could feature after bouncing back from sickness and a leg injury respectively.

Chelsea will be without a number of first-team regulars: Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Alvaro Morata (back) and Andreas Christensen (head) are all set to miss out.

The tie is finely poised after the sides drew 0-0 in a scrappy goalless draw at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago. You can follow all of tonight’s live action below.

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Key Points

Arsenal vs Chelsea, 8pm KO

[24 January 2018 16:00 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Arsenal vs Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi-final! 

Join Liam Corless from around 7pm for team news, build-up and minute-by-minute coverage. 

[24 January 2018 19:00 · Liam Corless]

Arsenal vs Chelsea team news

[24 January 2018 19:05 · Liam Corless]

VAR takes centre stage again tonight. In case you're not up to speed with exactly what that is, give this article a read:

VAR - all you need to know

[24 January 2018 19:13 · Liam Corless]

Pre-match quotes from Jack Wilshere

On how Arsenal will approach tonight's match: "We're at home, the game plan when we were away was a little different. We wanted to defend well. 

"We're going to have to defend well tonight too but we'll look to take the game to them a little bit more maybe.

"I don't think it will be a high scoring game. I think both teams know that both teams can attack. It might take a little bit of magic. We're going to have to move the ball quick in their half and try to open them up"

​Quotes from Sky Sports

[24 January 2018 19:17 · Liam Corless]

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is cup-tied for tonight's match but he will be cheering his new teammates on at the Emirates 

[24 January 2018 19:24 · Liam Corless]

Pre-match quotes from Arsene Wenger

On tonight's match: "We are two good teams who know each other very well. You can never predict what will happen in a game. The last game we played in the league was very open and then the first tie in this semi-final was very blocked."

On his decision to change from a back four to a back five: "We of course want to attack and therefore I will try to use one more offensive player."

His view of Saturday's 4-1 win over Crystal Palace: "It was difficult not to be happy with it (the performance). We started very well and defensively we were not under too much pressure so we want to repeat that performance."

Quotes from Sky Sports

[24 January 2018 19:30 · Liam Corless]

[24 January 2018 19:35 · Liam Corless]

Arsenal vs Chelsea - last five meetings

• Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal, League Cup (January 2018)
• Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea, Premier League (January 2018)
• Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal, Premier League (September 2017)
• Arsenal* 1-1 Chelsea, Community Shield (August 2017) (*Arsenal won on penalties)
• Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, FA Cup (May 2017)

[24 January 2018 19:39 · Liam Corless]

[24 January 2018 19:40 · Liam Corless]

Fans arrive at the Emirates prior to kick-off