Chelsea were 2-0 down to Arsenal shortly after half time in their EFL Cup semi final at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues let the first in from a corner, when Robert Sanchez flapped at a high ball which Ben White then just had to nod into an empty net. It wasn’t great from the Spaniard.
But the second was so much worse. A driven Ben White cross came low into the box, and Sanchez somehow let it through two hands right into the path of Viktor Gyokeres, who just had to tap it in. It was painful to watch.
You can see the goals in the clips embedded here:
Viktor Gyökeres doubles Arsenal's lead! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/wWLIKKp1bM
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 14, 2026
[Footage from Sky Sports]
Sanchez mistakes continue to remind Chelsea that he’s not good enough
Rob Sanchez flaps at a corner for Arsenal's first goal.
Rob Sanchez flaps at a corner for Arsenal’s first goal.
You can check the archives – while all season we’ve been happy to praise Sanchez for his improved form, we’ve never once said that the correct thing to do isn’t to replace him the moment someone better is available. This is a reminder that he’s never going to be good enough to be a long term, title winning solution.
Liam Rosenior called Sanchez “world class” in his introductory interview last week. We wonder if he will still be thinking that today?
In other news…
Liam Rosenior is without a lot of senior players for this game, and there’s some debate over who will have been behind that decision. The coach knew what he was getting himself into, given what happened with Enzo Maresca before him.
The team news for tonight had a lot of other interesting things to note – and may be a very bad sign for this Sunday if some of the missing players have something more serious. It seems Rosenior is being cautious, which is no bad thing.
More Stories about Robert Sanchez
Liam Rosenior speaks in his first Chelsea press conference.
Liam Rosenior in his first Chelsea interview.
Robert Sanchez trudges off.