Capital One Cup: Arsenal v Chelsea match preview

A look ahead to this week’s League Cup tie at the Emirates

Juan Mata could be set for a rare Chelsea start against Arsenal (GETTY IMAGES)

Sunday’s victory over Manchester City caps eight games without defeat for Jose Mourinho’s men and they will surely be looking to build on that confidence at the Emirates on Tuesday night.

The Blues manager threatened to field an Under-21 side against Arsenal as he learned his team is to play for the second time in two days, but later backed down, nonetheless leaving very few doubts that there will be some rotation.

Arsenal are currently enjoying the view from the top of the Premier League and will seek to carry that momentum into the Capital One cup with the hope of coming back to their trophy-winning ways of eight years ago.

Arsene Wenger will miss Mikel Arteta, who picked up a one-match suspension against Crystal Palace on Saturday and Mathieu Flamini, who is sidelined with a groin injury, while the Portuguese manager could be boosted by the return of former Gunners' left-back Ashley Cole, who played against Manchester City.

KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 7.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1, Premier League, January 2013

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2, Premier League, September 2012

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0, Premier League, April 2012

STATS:

Arsenal have won two and drawn one out of their last ten matches against Chelsea.

Arsenal have scored the second most amount of goals (20) in the Premier League, behind Manchester City (21).

The Gunners have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight League Cup matches.

The Blues have won their last three League Cup games against Arsenal.

Chelsea have won the League Cup twice under Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea have won their last three away games, scoring 10 and conceding only one.

ODDS:

Arsenal to win: 2.3

Chelsea to win: 3.2

Draw: 3.6

TV: Sky Sports 1 HD at 7.45pm, Highlights on BBC 1 at 11.05pm