Arsenal’s pursuit of silverware has come at a significant cost, with Mikel Arteta’s side facing a brutal fixture pile-up this February. Following their successful progression to the Carabao Cup final, a rescheduled trip to Wolves has been shoehorned into an already congested calendar. The Gunners now face a daunting journey to Molineux just days before a pivotal north London derby.
Sandro Tonali generated plenty of headlines on deadline day as the winter transfer window of 2026 came to a close, with Arsenal reported to have made a play for the Newcastle midfielder. No deal was done, but speculation continues to rage. Manchester City are said to be another of Tonali’s many suitors, and Pep Guardiola was spotted in deep conversation with the 25-year-old at the end of a Carabao Cup encounter.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City will formally write to the football authorities to demand Marc Guehi be deemed eligible for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. The City manager expressed his bewilderment after his £20 million January signing was forced to watch from the stands as his teammates dismantled Newcastle on Wednesday, insisting that the regulations preventing the defender from playing defy logic given the club pays his wages.
Omar Marmoush has fired a warning to Arsenal ahead of the Carabao Cup final, informing the Gunners that “every medal is important” to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side have grown accustomed to picking up trophies on a regular basis in recent times, but those without a major honour at the Etihad Stadium are determined to open their collection in 2025-26.
Fans have savaged Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland after watching Pep Guardiola's side cruise past Newcastle in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup without their Norway star's goals. Leading 2-0 from the first leg, City added to their tally courtesy of an Omar Marmoush brace and a goal from Tijjani Reijnders to secure a place in the final against Arsenal.
Manchester City ran riot against Newcastle to rubber-stamp their place in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. Pep Guardiola again rang the changes but still watched his side ease to a 3-1 win on the night to complete a 5-1 drubbing on aggregate over last year's winners. Omar Marmoush scored two quick-fire goals while Tijjani Reijnders added another in a clinical first-half display from the hosts.
Former Chelsea star Ruud Gullit feels that Liam Delap was not at all happy after starting Chelsea's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal as a winger at the Emirates. Liam Rosenior deployed the striker in an unusual right-wing role but saw his Blues team struggle to trouble the Gunners defensively despite going into the game 3-2 down after the first leg.
The nature of Chelsea's Carabao Cup semi-final exit at the hands of London rivals Arsenal on Tuesday has been polarising, to say the least. It was a contest that largely reflected the dour weather at the Emirates Stadium, as a turgid first half passed by almost entirely without incident and the second period followed a similar pattern before Kai Havertz - a former Chelsea player, of course - bagged a late winner on the break.
Chelsea icon John Terry has become the subject of brutal mockery from Arsenal supporters after sharing a video of himself watching the dying moments of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash. The Stamford Bridge hero filmed his reaction hoping to capture a last-gasp equaliser, only to record the moment former Blues player Kai Havertz sealed his side’s fate, much to the delight of the red half of London.
Paul Merson ripped into Chelsea's players after Liam Rosenior's side fell to a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday night, exiting the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage with a 4-2 aggregate loss. The Blues struggled to create many clear-cut chances and couldn't score the goals they needed to reach the final, instead seeing Kai Havertz strike to send the Gunners to Wembley.
Arsenal are into the final of the Carabao Cup after beating Chelsea 1-0 on Tuesday, prevailing 4-2 on aggregate. The Gunners showed little attacking appetite at the Emirates having entered the game with a lead to protect, and ultimately their visitors didn't ask enough meaningful questions to ever put their place at Wembley in serious doubt.
Chelsea missed out on a place in the Carabao Cup final as they failed to find a breakthrough in the second leg of their semi-final with Arsenal before eventually losing 1-0 on Tuesday to fall to a 4-2 aggregate defeat. The Blues defended resolutely and had the better of the game in the second half, but couldn't create enough opportunities before Kai Havertz put the tie to bed in stoppage time.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was a surprise absence from the Gunners' squad to take on Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night. Eberechi Eze started the clash in the No.10 role, with the Norwegian worryingly not even among the substitutes. Before kick-off, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta revealed the midfielder had picked up an untimely knock.
Alejandro Garnacho has taken a subtle pot shot at former club Manchester United ahead of Chelsea's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Arsenal. Chelsea trail the Gunners 3-2 in the tie but Garnacho believes his side can turn it around at the Emirates Stadium, pointing to how the Red Devils pulled off a surprise victory over Mikel Arteta's men last month.
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has been set a potential return date as he recovers from an injury which ruled him out of his side's Premier League clash with Leeds United on Saturday. The England international was included in Mikel Arteta's starting XI but appeared to suffer a groin complaint in the warm-up at Elland Road and was replaced in the Gunners team by Noni Madueke. Saka is not expected to feature in Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Chelsea on Tuesday night but his club are optimistic that he won't be out of action for too long.
Pep Guardiola has sarcastically claimed he wished Manchester City would spend more money after they splashed £84m ($114m) in the January transfer window on Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo. City have invested more in new players than any Premier League club for the second consecutive winter transfer window but Guardiola was at pains to point out that six teams have a higher net spend over the last seven years.
Mikel Arteta insists the issue between Declan Rice and Arsenal assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg is “all sorted” after the pair clashed during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory at Chelsea. The duo were involved in a heated argument during the half-time interval at Stamford Bridge, but the Gunners manager is adamant the problem has now been resolved.
Manchester United continue to count the cost of their on-field struggles, with it being reported that the Red Devils face another £50 million ($67m) hole in their accounts for 2025-26. With no European football on the agenda this season, the Premier League heavyweights have crashed out of both domestic cup competitions at the earliest opportunity.
Declan Rice was involved in a furious row with Arsenal coach Albert Stuivenberg during the half-time interval of the Gunners’ Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The England international was spotted on camera saying "oh, for f*ck’s sake" and suggesting that a member of Mikel Arteta’s backroom staff "doesn’t know what the hell he is on about".
Fans were left puzzled after Arsenal's opening goal against Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final was allowed to stand on Wednesday night, despite Manchester City having a strike disallowed the day before for a similar infraction from Erling Haaland against Newcastle United. Robert Sanchez flapped at a corner which allowed Ben White the simplest of headers, but Viktor Gyokeres appeared to be in an offside position as he tangled with Marc Guiu, who was defending on the line. The Gunners ended up claiming a 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, handing Mikel Arteta's side a strong advantage as they bid to reach the final at Wembley.
Arsenal took a big step towards the Carabao Cup final by edging past Chelsea 3-2 in this dramatic, all-London semi-final first leg, but Mikel Arteta's side will be left feeling they probably should have put the tie to bed having twice seen a two-goal lead pegged back at Stamford Bridge. Goals from Ben White, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi had the Gunners in control throughout this topsy-turvy contest, but a second-half brace from substitute Alejandro Garnacho ensured Chelsea have something still to play for at the Emirates in three weeks' time.
Chelsea face a tall order to reach the Carabao Cup final after a shocking performance from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez handed Arsenal a 3-2 victory in the first leg of their semi-final. The Spaniard made two avoidable mistakes which allowed Ben White and Viktor Gyokeres to score, though Alejandro Garnacho bagged twice ether side of a Martin Zubimendi effort to ensure the Blues take some hope into the return leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Moises Caicedo was a notable absentee from Chelsea's squad for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Wednesday night. The Ecuador international is one of the Blues' most important players in central midfield but new boss Liam Rosenior was forced to deploy Andrey Santos alongside Enzo Fernandez against the Gunners because of his absence. Chelsea have struggled with suspensions so far this season, with five red cards forcing key players to miss out at various stages.
Arsenal are showing no willingness to loan out wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri in January, despite transfer interest from the likes of West Ham United. The 18-year-old attacker has made just four starts in all competitions this season, prompting speculation that the Gunners might consider letting him leave on a temporary basis in the winter window. However, the north Londoners are yet to entertain any enquiries for the highly-rated teenager.
Pep Guardiola has launched a furious attack on the standard of officiating in English football, demanding a personal explanation from PGMOL chief Howard Webb following a chaotic VAR review. Despite Manchester City securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle, the Catalan manager was left seething after Antoine Semenyo was denied a second goal, reigniting a simmering feud over past injustices including last season's heartbreaking FA Cup final defeat.
Some 13 months on from a devastating provisional doping suspension and close to 14 months since his last appearance for the club, Mykhailo Mudryk is Chelsea's forgotten man. An upcoming anniversary, however, brings his troubles back into sharp focus; January 15 will mark three years to the day since Chelsea completed the signing of the then-coveted young winger from Shakhtar Donetsk, but he will find little reason for celebration.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
