Chelsea failed to produce a shock result on Tuesday night and beat Arsenal at The Emirates, as Liam Rosenior’s side were knocked out of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Chelsea were tasked with beating Arsenal to stand any chance of progressing to the Carabao Cup final on Tuesday night, a tall order, having lost the first leg 3-2. Liam Rosenior’s game plan was an obvious one.
He set Chelsea up to contain Arsenal in the first half, before deploying the likes of Cole Palmer, Estevao, and Alejandro Garnacho in an attempt to take advantage of the tension and draw the score level.
Did Rosenior get his tactics wrong against Arteta? 🤔
Hindsight is a wonderful thing…
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While it worked, Chelsea failed to score, and it saw The Gunners go on to win 1-0 late on through Kai Havertz, while Chelsea were pushing. But Troy Deeney has an explanation for Chelsea’s defeat.
Troy Deeney uses Estevao and Garnacho to explain Chelsea loss
According to Watford icon Deeney, Chelsea’s lack of experience off the bench compared to Arsenal was the reason for Chelsea losing the game and suffering a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Mikel Arteta’s side.
Deeney used Garnacho and Estevao as examples when explaining that Arsenal won the game because they could bring on experienced players like Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, with the game on a knife-edge.
SSC Napoli v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8
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“I didn’t feel they [Arsenal] were under that much pressure. It was just more of a tactical battle; we’re going to stop you, you’re going to stop us. No-one showed any real quality going forward,” Deeney said.
“We talk about Chelsea’s negativity, but buying young and developing players, Arsenal had ready-made, quality players that can impact the game. You bring on Estevao, Garnacho, hoping they can perform well.
“When you bring on a Havertz, a Jesus, you know what you’re going to get from them and that is why, I feel, Arsenal won the game,” Deeney said in his post-match analysis on CBS Sports, on Tuesday evening.
Troy Deeney’s verdict is just wrong on so many levels
Firstly, Deeney’s comments are ludicrous because Chelsea also brought on a player in Cole Palmer, a player who, at his best, gets into every side in the world. Palmer is an experienced England star now.
Is Liam Delap not good enough for Chelsea or are we not playing to his strengths?🤔
Liam Delap's display vs Arsenal
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Not only that, but Estevao is a Brazil international with 11 caps, and Garnacho has played for Argentina. These are not players that are rookies, lacking experience, or boasting little knowledge of big matches.
These are players who have scored goals on the biggest stage. Garnacho literally scored Chelsea’s two goals in the 4-2 aggregate win. That, and that Havertz and Jesus have been injury-prone of late.
While they are older and they have more games under their belt, it is not as if they are any more reliable than Estevao or Garnacho. Estevao has more goals and assists this season than any of the four players.
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