Joe Cole is confident Chelsea will have one foot in the final of the Carabao Cup after tonight’s London derby against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
New manager Liam Rosenior got off to an encouraging start last weekend following a thumping 5-1 win over Charlton in the FA Cup third round.
Enzo Maresca’s successor will take charge of the team for the first time in front of the club’s home fans this evening and a stern test awaits.
The Gunners arrive in buoyant mood, despite a number of injury doubts, and will be hoping to put up a better fight than they did against Newcastle at this stage of the competition last season when they slumped to a 4-0 aggregate defeat.
Despite the commanding position they hold in the Premier League, Arsenal have struggled against the big six this season and were held to a goalless draw by Liverpool on home soil a week ago.
Mikel Arteta’s men were also forced to settle for a point when they faced Chelsea away from home in November, despite enjoying a one-man advantage for over an hour.
The Blues were forced to contend without Moises Caicedo for the majority of that match after his red card and the influential midfielder will again be missing this evening through suspension.
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Despite that blow, Cole is confident his old team will emerge with a win and a two-goal margin of victory that would put them within touching distance of a place in the Wembley showpiece where they would face likely Manchester City after their 2-0 win against Newcastle at St James’ Park.
‘This is a game where you have to wait for the team sheets to come out,’ a confident Cole told Paddy Power.
‘It’s a bigger game for Chelsea and their new manager, Liam Rosenior. They rotated the squad for their recent FA Cup match, with eight changes being made when they faced Charlton, and it was a really good performance, so expect Cole Palmer, Reece James, and Malo Gusto to all return to the starting XI.
‘The last three meetings at Stamford Bridge have all been draws, which is interesting. I think Chelsea will win this game, and there won’t be many goals, I’d have Chelsea to win 2-0. They always turn up against the best teams.’
Enzo Fernandez, meanwhile, has scored three goals in his last four appearances for Chelsea and Cole is backing him to have a decisive say again this evening.
‘I fancy Enzo Fernandez to have two or more shots on goal,’ he added. ‘He takes Chelsea’s penalties, and he’s in the box constantly, playing off the shoulder of defenders.
‘And also Joao Pedro to have one as well. He was rested against Charlton for this game, so he should play. I know that before Rosenior came in, Liam Delap scored in his last game, but I think Pedro will play in the number nine position here.
‘In terms of Arsenal, look, we’re nearly in February, and then it’s the countdown.
‘They’ve got four fronts they are fighting on, and this competition is clearly the fourth choice out of all of them, and I just think nobody has ever won all four trophies.
‘Arsenal will win a trophy, maybe two, but I reckon this game goes to Chelsea. It will mean more to them. It’s Liam Rosenior’s first game at home; there will be a spring in the step of the Chelsea players.’
