Arsenal’s success from set pieces is very well documented, with the Gunners regularly using corners as an avenue to goal, but Chelsea have also improved on the set piece front this term, with the Blues netting 10 of their 34 Premier League goals from set pieces (29%).

The recent league head-to-head clash between the sides saw the Blues open the scoring from a corner, with the corner count on that occasion only sitting at six. This was largely due to Moises Caicedo’s early red card, which massively disrupted the overall rhythm of the encounter, and we can expect both sides to get back to their usual corner numbers here.

Arsenal’s 10 away games in the Premier League this season have seen an average match corner count of 9.30 corners per game, with the Gunners responsible for 5.60 of those per match. Mikel Arteta’s side have netted 12 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season, representing 30% of their total goals in the top-flight. 

Chelsea are averaging 11.0 match corners per game across their 10 games at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this term - only West Ham (11.82) and Newcastle (13.0) are seeing more match corners at home in the Premier League than Chelsea this season.

Chelsea managed 11 shots and three shots on target in their 1-1 draw against Arsenal earlier in the season, despite having to contest the majority of the encounter with 10 men. They also had three shots on target against the Gunners when Mikel Arteta’s side visited Stamford Bridge last season, suggesting that they can cover this line against the best defensive side in the league. 

The Blues had 16 shots on target in their 5-1 win over Charlton in the FA Cup at the weekend, and while this is a step up in quality of assignment - Chelsea will need a healthy shot on target count here to take something of note to the Emirates in a few weeks time.

The Blues are averaging 4.80 shots on target per game in the Premier League this term and have covered this shot on target line in 17 of their 21 matches in the Premier League this season. This data suggests that Chelsea will be able to carry an attacking threat in this clash, and may need to take a lead to the Emirates to progress to the final.

Chelsea’s petulance won’t vanish just because Enzo Maresca has left the club; it’s a deep-rooted problem which is directly related to the youthful profile of the side. In the first half of the most recent head-to-head clash between the sides, there were six cards produced by Anthony Taylor - including a red card for Moises Caicedo.

Chelsea had already covered this line by half time, and probably would have ended up with a few more cards in the contest if they didn’t have to be passive as they were playing with 10 men. There were 25 match fouls in that clash, and I think we’ll get another fiercely contested battle here, which is sure to test Simon Hooper, and this young Chelsea side.

The Blues have picked up 47 yellow cards across their 21 matches in the Premier League this season (2.23 per game) - only three sides in the league have picked up more. Chelsea also sit top of the red card chart with five so far this term and have been top of the yellow card charts in the Premier League in each of the last two seasons, suggesting that it is a long term issue that wasn’t related to Enzo Maresca.

Bukayo Saka is one of the few Arsenal players you can rely on in open play to create something from nothing and get a shot away. Arsenal struggle to create chances from open play already, but when Saka is out of the side, this is even more noticeable, so he’s a reliable player to back to get a few shots away here.

Saka has taken 46 shots across his 19 Premier League appearances this term, working out to an average of 2.90 shots per 90. This is slightly down on his 3.48 shots per 90 average from last season, but it’s still strong enough to back Saka for a few attempts. Arsenal’s star player had three shots in the most recent head-to-head meeting between the sides, with one of these demanding a save from Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea net.

Saka also had 2+ shots in his previous visit to Stamford Bridge, which also ended 1-1. The Blues conceded 11 shots against Charlton in their FA Cup clash against the Championship side, and are still likely to be vulnerable at the back in the early stages of Liam Rosenior’s tenure - opening the door for Saka to have at least two shots here.

Marc Cucurella faces up against Bukayo Saka in the latest installment of their intriguing rivalry. Cucurella is one of the best 1v1 defenders in Europe, but Saka has been able to get the better of him before - most recently in the 1-1 draw between the sides which saw Saka dragged down on three occasions.

Cucurella committed four fouls in that game, a third of the total fouls that Chelsea committed in the clash. He was shown a yellow card after just 11 minutes for his first foul on Saka, and Simon Hooper may look to set a similar early precedent to stop Cucurella continually going in with niggling fouls against Saka. Simon Hooper has officiated one Chelsea game this season which was their 3-1 defeat to Brighton at home - he handed out five cards to the Blues, including a red card, one of which was shown to Cucurella.

Cucurella was sent off in his most recent Premier League game against Fulham, and has already served his suspension for that game having missed the FA Cup clash with Charlton. That sending off took his card tally for the season to four across his 19 Premier League appearances.

Martin Zubimendi was cautioned after just five minutes in the league meeting between these sides earlier in the season at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard was replaced just before the hour mark as a result of his caution, with Arsenal picking up six yellow cards in that clash from a haul of 13 fouls.

Zubimendi is one of the most important players in the Arsenal side and has a pivotal role when it comes to protecting the back four, often leading to the holding midfielder having to commit tactical fouls to stop sides breaking against the Gunners quickly. These situations have led to Zubimendi picking up four yellow cards in the Premier League this term - only Calafiori (5) has picked up more.

Zubimendi’s main opponent here is likely to be Enzo Fernandez with Moises Caicedo set to miss this first leg clash due to suspension. Fernandez was fouled once in the most recent clash between the sides, and is averaging 1.11 fouls won per 90 in the Premier League this season. Zubimendi will also have to contest duels against Reece James who was the best player on the pitch in that 1-1 draw between the sides, winning four fouls in that game.

Enzo Fernandez came off the bench to score and assist in a thirty minute cameo against Charlton in Liam Rosenior’s first game in charge of the Blues, with that snippet giving us a small insight into Fernandez’s role in the side under the new coach. Fernandez should also be on penalty duties for Chelsea here should Palmer not start the game. 

Cole Palmer is a doubt for this game, and Moises Caicedo is suspended so the most likely midfield set up here is James and Santos as a pivot with Fernandez pushed slightly higher up the pitch. Fernandez has already shown promise when it comes to goal contributions with seven for Chelsea so far this term - only Pedro Neto (8) and Joao Pedro (9) in the Chelsea squad have more.

Fernandez is one of the few Chelsea players that shows real leadership qualities and is sure to be important to Chelsea having a chance over two legs in this semi final clash. As well as his two goal contributions against Charlton last time out, Fernandez has also scored twice across his last five Premier League appearances with these goals coming against Manchester City and Bournemouth.