Chelsea find themselves out of the Carabao Cup after a disappointing defeat to Arsenal.
It was a game that saw Liam Rosenior ring the changes once again in the second half, changing from a three-back to a four-back, as well as making a double substitution.
This came after deciding to start with Enzo Fernadez on the left and Liam Delap on the right.
Chelsea perhaps made the right decision to keep things tight in the first half, but they never pushed on and challenged Arsenal in the second.
For a side whose Carabao Cup final place was on the line, there was a total lack of urgency to get balls into the box and try to find that equaliser.
Paul Merson was shocked at what he saw and even thinks one player was upset because of it.
Is Liam Delap not good enough for Chelsea or are we not playing to his strengths?🤔
Liam Delap's display vs Arsenal
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Paul Merson puts Wesley Fofana’s crying down to Chelsea’s tactics
Gary Neville was shocked that Cole Palmer was on the substitutes’ bench, which Rosenior has since put down to him not being ready to start.
But that isn’t all Rosenior is taking some criticism for, as Paul Merson claims that Wesley Fofana was upset at the fact Chelsea didn’t try and give it a go.
The Chelsea defender was spotted in tears at full-time.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, he said this.
“You see Fofana there. He played well but he’s crying, as a player he’ll be in the dressing room and think you didn’t give it a go. We just got beaten and we didn’t give it a go.”
It’s a fair assumption by Merson, but personally, I think it’s more to do with the fact that Chelsea are out of the competition, and a chance to play at Wembley has gone.
Enzo Fernandez on the left…?
What do you make of Liam Rosenior’s starting side?
Arsenal v Chelsea - Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Liam Rosenior can learn from his lessons
That’s a couple of matches now where tactics have been questioned.
You had the decision to play Reece James at centre-back against Napoli, then you had the weakened team to face West Ham, and now the lack of attacking intent against Arsenal.
Rosenior is still learning his way at Chelsea and trialing new things, but we haven’t really seen an experiment that has worked so far.
The second half against West Ham was the kind of tactic that needed to be deployed against an Arsenal side that were just looking to sit back and counter.
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