Kepa Arrizabalaga will replace David Raya in the Arsenal starting lineup when they host Chelsea at the Emirates for the EFL Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday.

Arsenal will aim to secure a spot in the EFL Cup final when they welcome Chelsea to the Emirates for the semi-final second leg on Tuesday night. Mikel Arteta has a new injury concernt to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.

Mikel Merino is the latest absentee after breaking his foot. The Spanish international is likely to miss most of the rest of the 2025/26 season. Additionally, Arteta is sweating over Bukayo Saka’s fitness after the English attacker missed the game against Leeds United due to a hip injury he sustained in pre-match training.

Otherwise, the Spanish tactician has a full-strength squad, and he will hope to rest a few players in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arteta provided fitness updates on Saka and Merino.

The Arsenal boss said, “We have to wait. Today he [Saka] was better but we have to wait and see how he responds, and then make the decision. It doesn’t look like something too serious. Whether he’s going to be available for tomorrow or the weekend, we’ll see.”

“He [Merino] needs to go through a procedure, which is not always positive. He’s a big player for us, a player that has such versatility and capacity to compete in various positions, and that’s a big blow.”

“It’s a very rare injury so we have to wait and see once we have the surgery, how that reacts daily, obviously monitor it throughout the week for the surgery and see. I know Mikel is going to do absolutely everything that he possibly can to come back as quick as possible. But as well you have to respect the healing process and the fact that obviously it’s an injury that is quite rare.”

Kepa Arrizabalaga will replace David Raya between the sticks, with Arsenal lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Chelsea on Tuesday.