CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

FT: There’s the whistle. Arsenal’s travelling fans are singing away, and that says it all. They’ll be delighted with that showing, and Chelsea simply didn’t do enough.

Frustration for Antonio Conte and the Chelsea fans, who saw their side get into good positions, but there was no final ball or finish.

All to play for in the second leg at the Emirates.

90+5: Chelsea lump a few balls into the box, but Arsenal deal with all of them. Fabregas dinks one in-behind for Moses, but it’s out of play.

That should be that.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

90+3: Chelsea have dominated the second half, but haven’t created enough clear-cut chances to win this game. Wenger will be delighted to bring his side back to the Emirates at 0-0. Two minutes remaining…

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

90+1: FIVE minutes added on at the Bridge

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

89: POST! Fabregas somehow hits the near post with a chipped cross… and then Arsenal make a hash of the clearance! Corner ball.

87: Morata draws the free-kick off Elneny, and is then replaced by Batshuayi. The ball hasn’t stuck with Morata, but he has fought well and won plenty of free-kicks.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

85: Odd substitution. Bakayoko is on, Hazard comes off. Maybe Conte is happy with the 0-0?

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

83: The game seems to be petering out, but I don’t think Chelsea will be too happy with the scoreline if it stays like this. Hopefully it picks up…

Willian trips Sanchez, who has been very bright since coming on. 40 yards out.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

80: Kante is booked for tripping Welbeck in Chelsea’s half. Arsenal showing a bit of intent now in the final 10 minutes…

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

79: Iwobi finds Welbeck with his back to goal in the box. He turns well and shoots, but it’s a superb block again by Azpilicueta.

77: More Chelsea frustration. Hazard breaks free on the left and enters the box in space at an angle. He goes for goal, but Holding does superbly well to block it.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

75: Willian has a crack from 30 yards… it takes a slightly deflection and swerves away from Ospina, but the Arsenal goalkeeper does well to gather it.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

73: That just about sums up this game… Iwobi makes a brilliant 40-yard run forward with the ball, with Sanchez to his right and Welbeck to his left.

Both are surrounded by blue shirts, so he decides to go for goal, but it’s a poor effort. He attempts to toe-poke it, but scuffs the floor instead. That’s I-woeful. Sorry.

72: Whereas in the first half much of the play was in midfield, Chelsea have played almost exclusively in sight of Arsenal’s goal since the break.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

70: Agonising for Chelsea fans! Hazard is found in a perfect position on the edge of the box, central.

But he takes too many touches, twists, turns, and then sees his pass intercepted by Maitland-Niles!

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

68: CLOSE! Alonso’s cross falls to Moses on the right fo the box, and his goalbound effort is brilliantly deflected over by Mustafi.

CLOSE AGAIN! The corner then comes in, Christensen is completely unmarked and doesn’t even have to leave the floor, but glances his header well wide! Ospina was in no-man’s land!

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

67: Here he comes. Sanchez is on, replacing Lacazette. His introduction is met by jeers from the travelling fans, and chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing!”

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

66: Azpilicueta is routinely being allowed space around 45 yards from goal to curl in deliveries towards Morata and Co in the Arsenal box. The Gunners have dealt with each so far.

‘Arsenal can’t get involved’

Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal

Pat Nevin

Ex-Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

It is very difficult for Arsenal, they can’t get involved. Chelsea have come out with a different attitude and you get the feeling the manager has had some harsh words at half-time.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

60: CLOSE! Mustafi flies in for a header above Morata, but it’s poor as the Spaniard does well to get away from him with the ball. He’s at an acute angle as Ospina runs out, and his low effort his the side-netting!

Unlucky, but that’s very rash from Mustafi.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

59: Wilshere hands his captain armband to Mustafi, and that’s the end of his evening. Elneny replaces him after that ankle injury.

58: SAVE! The pitch opens up for Morata around 20 yards out, and his effort is beaten away well by Ospina!

Uh oh, Wilshere is down, and looks to be coming off here.

56: It looks like the incident that triggered the injury was Wilshere’s block of Moses’ earlier cross, which was worsened by his landing at the corner. He’s back on the pitch, however…

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

54: Corner Chelsea, Fabregas delivers, and Alonso gets a good run on Wilshere at the near post, but can’t glance it goalwards!

Wilshere has injured his ankle as he landed… and looks to be coming off!

52: Arsenal give the ball away in a dangerous position, and Xhaka is then booked for a foul on Rudiger 40 yards out.

The free-kick is poor, however, and Arsenal can push out.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

50: Chelsea playing more in Arsenal’s half after the break, and you wonder who will make the first tactical change in this contest.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

Half-Time: That’s the half! Relatively even at the Bridge, as it was at the Emirates last Wednesday at the break. Not too many chances, but very competitive.

Arsenal certainly standing their corner, and will be the happier of the two.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

Half-Time: That’s the half! Relatively even at the Bridge, as it was at the Emirates last Wednesday at the break. Not too many chances, but very competitive.

Arsenal certainly standing their corner, and will be the happier of the two.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

45: Free-kick to Chelsea on the right as Morata is fouled by Mustafi. Fabregas delivers, Welbeck glances clear for a corner.

CHANCE! Chelsea go short again, Azpilicueta plays a deep ball into Fabregas, and he heads straight at Ospina from eight yards unmarked! Big chance for the former Arsenal man!

44: One step forward, one step back for Mailand-Niles. He receives it from Wilshere’s lovely ball on the left, easily gets past Moses with a stepover, but then runs the ball out of play.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

42: On reflection, and looking at the replays, I think that’s the right decision. Moses only brushes Maitland-Niles’ left boot, and the Arsenal man took another step on his left foot before going down.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

40: CONTROVERSY! VAR IN USE AGAIN! Well, well, well. Iwobi has a go inside the box, and Courtois beats it away well.

Then, Maitland-Niles beats Moses to the ball, Moses touches the bottom of Maitland-Niles boot as he dives in, but the Arsenal man goes down very late inside the box.

Atkinson signals for a goal kick, then goes to VAR to check the incident. After 30 seconds or so of looking at the incident, signals for a goal kick again.

So far Arsenal look good on the ball but they haven’t looked dangerous. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is clearly a very talented player and you would like to see him on the ball more.

Chelsea need more players in the box

Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal

Pat Nevin

Ex-Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

If there has been one weakness for Chelsea, that is when they have got to the byeline and they generally only have one man in the box – and that is Alvaro Morata.

Follow Match Commentary Below

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

37: Mustafi is holding Morata, and Chelsea win a free-kick in a good position around 30 yards from goal on the left. Fabregas over it to cross…

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

35: Chelsea corner, again taken short, and it comes to Drinkwater to slam goalwards on the edge of the box. It bobbles before him, however, and he blazes it miles over the crossbar.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

33: Hard to say who has had the better of play so far. Arsenal have had slightly more possession (55 per cent), but chances have been at a minimum for both sides.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

31: Xhaka takes the corner, but again it’s low and weak. Chelsea easily clear.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

30: VAR IN USE! Arsenal have a corner, and the referee receives a word in his ear from the VAR regarding a shove in the box.

Replays show Chambers shoves Azpilicueta to the ground, and Martin Atkinson has a word with them both. No cards, but an historic moment nonetheless!

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

28: POST! Maitland-Niles again lets Moses past him without any resistance, slipping at the vital moment. Moses turns inside, shoots left-footed, and it hits the foot of the near post!

The young Gunner needs to get his act together.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

26: Alonso receives the ball on the left from Kante, sticks in a cross-shot across the face of goal, and it’s deflected out for a corner.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

24: SHOT! Maitland-Niles, that’s so, so poor. He allows Moses straight through him on the right, like the parting of the Red Sea (LOL), and the Chelsea man’s effort is straight at Ospina.

He fumbles it, but gathers at the second attempt as Morata closed in.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

22: CHANCE! This is what Jack Wilshere is all about. Lacazette makes a great run and latches onto the midfielder’s superb lofted ball… he takes it very early, however, and lashes it over! He had a fair bit of time to move towards goal.

20: Xhaka steps up, drags his shot against the wall, but luckily wins a corner. The corner is poor, and Hazard is up-ended by Xhaka after nutmegging him. He really is up for this, the Belgian…

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

18: Iwobi makes a lung-busting run at the Chelsea midfield and defence, gets his body across Kante, and is upended by the midfielder. Free-kick in a decent position…

16: Arsenal playing about with it at the back. I wouldn’t say it’s crisp, assured passing, but it’s something…

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

14: Bellerin with a good, low cross into a dangerous position looking for Welbeck, but Azpilicueta comes across to clear well. Even start to this game.

WENGER WATCHES ON

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

10: Corner to Arsenal. Xhaka takes, low and weak, but Alonso makes a bit of a hash of his clearance. After some pinball, Chelsea push out and clear.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

8: You get the feeling Hazard is really up for this tonight. He receives the ball centrally and flicks it between his legs for Fabregas, but the move breaks down eventually.

6: Chelsea pressing well, and win the ball back on halfway from Ospina’s rushed clearance. The Blues looking to take control early on.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

4: Morata returns the favour, finding Hazard at the last line of defence, but Mustafi steps in well. Arsenal will have to be careful they don’t play too high up the pitch here. Hazard has started sharply.

WENGER IN THE PRESS BOX

Our man at the Bridge Nick Wright is not far from Wenger, who is sat in the press box for this evening’s game as he serves number two of his three-match touchline ban.

CONTE, WENGER PRE-MATCH

Here’s what managers Conte and Wenger told Sky Sports before kick-off…

2: Hazard threads the ball through to Morata at an angle on the left of the box, as Arsenal play a relatively high line. He gets to the byline, and tries to poke it into the near post, but it hits the side-netting.

1: And they’re off!

The first leg of the Carabao League Cup semi-final between bitter London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal will go live 9;pm Nigeria Time.

And if this match is as half as good as last week’s Premier League encounter at the Emirates, we’re due a cracker.

Arsenal have a poor record at Stamford Bridge. Since winning 5-3 in October 2011, they’ve lost five and drawn one of their last six games on the Fulham Broadway, a run which takes in a 6-0 shellacking in March 2014.

With Eden Hazard fully recovered from a calf injury, Chelsea will be favourites to take a lead to north London for the second leg in a fortnight’s time. Especially as Arsenal are reeling from FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest, while their star man Alexis Sanchez may have his head elsewhere thanks to some serious interest from Manchester City.

Then again, the last three meetings between these sides have ended all square. And in the one before that, Arsenal did a comprehensive number on Chelsea in the FA Cup final. The bookies don’t expect the Gunners to win here tonight, but then they didn’t expect that one either.

So good luck guessing what’ll happen this fine evening. Drama, intrigue, twists and turns are never very far away when these old foes square up. Throw in some potential VAR shenanigans, and we could be in for quite the ride. It’s a huge London derby! It’s the League Cup semi-final! It’s on!

Kick off: 8pm GMT.

How the other semi-final went

Man City 2-1 Bristol City (Tue)

The winners of the Chelsea-Arsenal tie will play in the final against either Manchester City or Bristol City, who played their first leg last night.

Man City won 2-1 with Sergio Aguero scoring a last-minute winner.

Championship side Bristol City were excellent, especially in the first half, and led from Bobby Reid’s penalty, awarded after John Stones chopped down the Robins player.

But Kevin de Bruyne equalised for the unbeaten Premier League leaders after a one-two with Raheem Sterling – and Aguero headed home Bernardo Silva’s cross.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

18: Iwobi makes a lung-busting run at the Chelsea midfield and defence, gets his body across Kante, and is upended by the midfielder. Free-kick in a decent position…

16: Arsenal playing about with it at the back. I wouldn’t say it’s crisp, assured passing, but it’s something…

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

14: Bellerin with a good, low cross into a dangerous position looking for Welbeck, but Azpilicueta comes across to clear well. Even start to this game.

WENGER WATCHES ON

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

10: Corner to Arsenal. Xhaka takes, low and weak, but Alonso makes a bit of a hash of his clearance. After some pinball, Chelsea push out and clear.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

8: You get the feeling Hazard is really up for this tonight. He receives the ball centrally and flicks it between his legs for Fabregas, but the move breaks down eventually.

6: Chelsea pressing well, and win the ball back on halfway from Ospina’s rushed clearance. The Blues looking to take control early on.

CHELSEA 0-0 ARSENAL

WENGER IN THE PRESS BOX

Our man at the Bridge Nick Wright is not far from Wenger, who is sat in the press box for this evening’s game as he serves number two of his three-match touchline ban.

CONTE, WENGER PRE-MATCH

Here’s what managers Conte and Wenger told Sky Sports before kick-off…

1: And they’re off!

The first leg of the Carabao League Cup semi-final between bitter London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal will go live 9;pm Nigeria Time.

And if this match is as half as good as last week’s Premier League encounter at the Emirates, we’re due a cracker.

Kick off: 8pm GMT.

How the other semi-final went

Man City 2-1 Bristol City (Tue)

The winners of the Chelsea-Arsenal tie will play in the final against either Manchester City or Bristol City, who played their first leg last night.

Man City won 2-1 with Sergio Aguero scoring a last-minute winner.

Championship side Bristol City were excellent, especially in the first half, and led from Bobby Reid’s penalty, awarded after John Stones chopped down the Robins player.

But Kevin de Bruyne equalised for the unbeaten Premier League leaders after a one-two with Raheem Sterling – and Aguero headed home Bernardo Silva’s cross.