Arsenal vs Chelsea: Predicted Line-Ups For The League Cup Clash

Arsenal take on Chelsea at the Emirates in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night.

Arsene Wenger is likely to field a weakened squad and is expected to play a similar side to the one that beat West Brom on penalties in the previous round.

That means that captain Thomas Vermaelen should start at the back alongside Nacho Monreal and Carl Jenkinson, while one of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny will also play.

Injury and suspension in midfield means Wenger is short of options and may be forced to play Jack Wilshere. Mikel Arteta misses the game after being sent off against Crystal Palace at the weekend while Mathieu Flamini picked up a groin injury in the game and could be set for a few weeks on the sidelines.

Emmanuel Frimpong is not yet match fit while Thomas Eisfeld and Gedion Zalalem are both out through injury, but Wenger has confirmed that young Isaac Hayden will start.

Serge Gnabry will also play if he can shake off a knock and we’re also likely to see Ryo Miyaichi, Tomas Rosicky and Nicklas Bendtner from the start.

As for Chelsea Jose Mourinho has back-tracked on his threat to field an entire squad made up of youth players in protest at having to play the game just 48 hours after facing Man City in the league. The Portuguese coach will however play a weakened side for the game.

Mark Schwarzer is expected to start in goal with Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Ryan Bertrand and Tomas Kalas making up the defence.

Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel could get an outing in midfield while the likes of Juan Mata, Willian and Kevin de Bruyne are expected to feature in attack behind forgotten hitman Demba Ba.

Here are our predicted teams:

What do you think of the teams? What would be your preferred eleven?