Chelsea will be desperate to bounce back after getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
It ended up being a rather controversial game for Liam Rosenior, whose tactics were slaughtered by pretty much every pundit in existence.
First, he set Chelsea up with a back-three to keep everything tight and take the game deep, which was done effectively. But when it came to needing to press for a goal, everything just lacked urgency and there were little to no chances created, even when time was running out.
And that wasn’t all, either, as the choice to have Liam Delap playing as a winger also raised eyebrows.
However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had a slightly different opinion on it all.
Did Rosenior get his tactics wrong against Arteta? 🤔
Hindsight is a wonderful thing…
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Mikel Arteta likes what he saw from Liam Rosenior
Most Chelsea supporters online enjoyed the performance but just couldn’t understand why their side didn’t make more of a fist of it.
Considering the Blues trailed for pretty much the whole match, it does come as a surprise that they didn’t start going for it until it was too late.
However, Mikel Arteta praised Liam Rosenior’s setup in his post-match presser.
“Right from the beginning, they changed the setup and changed their game. We had to be very flexible and smart, using the bench and the adjustments that we made.”
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 was fuming at Chelsea’s tactics
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Paul Merson did not hold back. He berated Liam Rosenior for setting up and playing like a League 2 side against Arsenal.
“I’m numb, I can’t believe what I just watched. I honestly can’t believe what I just watched. I mean, Arsenal fans and Arsenal players themselves, this is Chelsea Football Club. You know, they’ve got international football players, they’ve got a World Cup winner, they’ve got players all over. This is not a bottom-of-the-bottom-four, bottom-five team.
“They’ve just gone there, I mean. I’m lost for words. I cannot believe what happened. They’ve just gone out with an absolute whimper in the semi-final of a big competition. And if it worked, it was great, but it hasn’t worked. And you can’t gamble like that.
“Have a go and go out in a blaze of glory. Don’t go out like that. I’m just… I’m lost for words, honestly.”
Merson also went on to claim that Wesley Fofana’s crying was because of the lack of fight.
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