Arsenal played 0-0 with Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg semi final of the League Cup on Thursday, with man down from the from half.
Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka was given a red card and sent off the pitch within 24 minutes of the first half after hacking down Diogo Jota.
Liverpool lacked the energy for vibrant attacks and shooting down Arsenal with one man down in the absence of two African players, Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Sadio Mane of Senegal currently playing for their countries in the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Arsenal will be playing the second leg of the semifinal with Liverpool next Thursday.
Chelsea defeated Tottenham in both legs of the semi final on goal aggregate of 3-1 to qualify for the final of the League Cup, waiting the winner of Liverpool and Arsenal two leg semi final.
The final will be played at Wembley in February.