Carabao Cup Draw: Why Arsenal and Tottenham Can’t Face Each Other, But Chelsea Miss Out in New Format Explained

The Carabao Cup third-round draw is set to take place with a unique twist this season, as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will be kept apart due to the new format introduced to accommodate the expanded European football schedule. The introduction of two different bowls in the draw process is a direct result of the increased number of matches in the Champions League and Europa League this season.

BUMDITGIIJKRRFN63BRABAQ3EQ Carabao Cup Draw: Why Arsenal and Tottenham Can’t Face Each Other, But Chelsea Miss Out in New Format Explained
Soccer Football – Carabao Cup – Fourth Round – West Ham United v Arsenal – London Stadium, London, Britain – November 1, 2023 Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard in action with West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus REUTERS/Tony Obrien NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR ‘LIVE’ SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS.

Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United are also affected by this new arrangement, while Chelsea, despite their European commitments, remain unaffected. This article delves into the reasons behind these changes and explains the implications for the clubs involved.

The Impact of European Expansion on Carabao Cup Draw

The 2023-24 football season has seen a significant expansion in the Champions League and Europa League, with each competition adding two extra matches to the group stage. This expansion has created a scheduling conflict with the Carabao Cup, particularly in the third round, which is traditionally played in mid-September. Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Manchester City are all set to compete in the Champions League during the week of September 16, while Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will begin their Europa League campaigns the following week.

D7POD27LVBO2LEX3R3LPWWFEQM Carabao Cup Draw: Why Arsenal and Tottenham Can’t Face Each Other, But Chelsea Miss Out in New Format Explained
Soccer Football – Carabao Cup – Final – Manchester United v Newcastle United – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – February 26, 2023 Manchester United’s David de Gea and Bruno Fernandes celebrate with the trophy after winning the Carabao Cup REUTERS/Tony Obrien

To avoid potential fixture congestion and clashes, the Carabao Cup organizers have implemented special conditions for this season’s third-round draw.

The New Format: Two Bowls, No North London Derby

To accommodate the busy schedules of clubs involved in European competitions, the Carabao Cup third-round draw will use a new format involving two separate bowls. Bowl 1 will contain the six Premier League clubs participating in the Champions League and Europa League: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur. Bowl 2 will include the 25 winners from the second-round matches, along with Chelsea, who are set to compete in the UEFA Conference League starting in October.

A pre-draw will take place before Nottingham Forest’s match against Newcastle United on Wednesday, determining the home and away positions for the six clubs in Bowl 1. Following this, the main draw will be conducted, alternating between clubs from Bowl 1 and Bowl 2 for the first six ties. Once all six clubs from Bowl 1 have been drawn, the remaining ten ties will be selected from Bowl 2 alone.

Why Arsenal and Tottenham Can’t Meet

One of the most significant outcomes of the new format is that Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, North London’s fiercest rivals, cannot face each other in the third round of the Carabao Cup. The reason behind this is simple: both clubs are involved in European competitions and are therefore placed in Bowl 1.

KYYKX46X7FIATJI4IQRMGIU3L4 Carabao Cup Draw: Why Arsenal and Tottenham Can’t Face Each Other, But Chelsea Miss Out in New Format Explained
Soccer Football – Carabao Cup Final – Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – April 25, 2021 Manchester City’s Fernandinho celebrates with the trophy after winning the Carabao Cup Pool via REUTERS/Carl Recine

The alternating draw method ensures that these clubs, along with the other four in Bowl 1, will not meet in the third round. This precautionary measure is designed to minimize the risk of fixture congestion, as these clubs have their European commitments to consider.

Chelsea’s Exemption: Why the Blues Miss Out

Despite being involved in European football, Chelsea is not subject to the same restrictions as the six clubs in Bowl 1. The Blues will only begin their UEFA Conference League campaign in October, which means they are not playing European matches during the Carabao Cup third-round weeks. As a result, Chelsea will be placed in Bowl 2 alongside the 25 second-round winners. This placement allows them to face any team from either bowl in the third round, unlike the other six Premier League sides involved in European competitions.

The Carabao Cup third-round draw’s new format reflects the challenges posed by an increasingly congested football calendar. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, along with four other Premier League clubs, will be kept apart to avoid potential fixture clashes with their European commitments. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s delayed start in the UEFA Conference League means they miss out on these new restrictions and could face any opponent in the third round. As the draw approaches, fans will be keen to see how this innovative format plays out and which teams will emerge victorious in their quest for Carabao Cup glory.

How old is the Carabao Cup?

The Carabao Cup was founded on 26 September 1960 and it’s a 64 years old competition.

Read More: Bournemouth Secure Season-Long Loan for Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More like this

Gabriel Magalhães Ruled Out for Season in Devastating Blow to Arsenal

Gabriel Magalhaes Ruled Out for Season in Devastating Blow...

Arsenal’s defensive stability has taken a massive hit as the club confirmed that Gabriel Magalhaes will not...

Premier League 2024-25: Chelsea vs Tottenham – Preview, Prediction...

Chelsea look to secure their top-four position in a London derby. Here's our preview and prediction for...
Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal Intensify Pursuit of Man Utd Target After Sporting Director Appointment

Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal Intensify Pursuit of Man Utd Target...

Arsenal have ramped up their interest in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres as they prepare for a...
Enduring the Wait: Which Premier League Clubs Have the Longest Major Trophy Droughts?

Enduring the Wait: Which Premier League Clubs Have the...

Winning major silverware is the ultimate goal for any football club, yet for some teams, success has...
Premier League 2024/25: Arsenal vs Chelsea - Preview, Prediction And Where To Watch The Match LIVE

Premier League 2024/25: Arsenal vs Chelsea – Preview, Prediction And...

We preview Sunday's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium with our Arsenal vs Chelsea prediction. Will...

LATEST NEWS

ISL 2024-25 Semifinal: FC Goa vs Bengaluru FC – Preview, Prediction and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

FC Goa are set to welcome Bengaluru FC to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa for the second leg of their Indian Super League...

Top 5 Footballers Who Played for Both Manchester United and Manchester City

In this blog post, we’ll explore the fascinating stories of footballers who played for Manchester United and Manchester City. We’ll focus on primary keywords...

MS Dhoni’s Retirement Rumours Heat Up After Parents Show Up for CSK vs DC Match

The cricketing world stands at attention as fresh MS Dhoni retirement rumors sweep across stadiums and social media platforms alike. On April 5, 2025,...

Most Player of the Match Awards in IPL: Players with the Most Player of the Match (POTM) Awards Since 2018

Most Player of the Match Awards in IPL : Since 2018, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen some jaw-dropping performances, clutch finishes, and...

Featured