Chelsea suffered a humbling 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semifinal - losing 4-2 on aggregate - with Kai Havertz scoring a late winner to send the Gunners to the final
Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist
10:25, 04 Feb 2026
Paul Merson was unimpressed by Chelsea's strategy
Paul Merson was unimpressed by Chelsea's strategy(Image: Getty Images)
Paul Merson has criticized Chelsea for its lack of fighting spirit during the team's Carabao Cup semifinal loss to Arsenal.
Liam Rosenior's team adopted a defensive approach in the first half, attempting to keep Mikel Arteta's side at bay, despite trailing 3-2 from the first leg. Rosenior, 41, saw his team fail to score before Kai Havertz, formerly of Chelsea, netted in stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win and 4-2 aggregate victory.
Chelsea's players were visibly distraught following the final whistle, with the likes of Wesley Fofana reduced to tears. The west London outfit struggled to carve out any clear-cut opportunities, with Kepa Arrizabalaga's excellent stop from Enzo Fernandez in the opening period representing the team's only genuine attempt on goal.
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Despite the evident disappointment and heartbreak etched across the Chelsea players' faces, Arsenal legend Merson showed little sympathy.
He said: "I am numb, I am flabbergasted. I can't believe what I have just watched. I honestly can't believe what I have just watched.
"Arsenal fans and the players themselves... this is Chelsea Football Club. They have got international football players, a World Cup winner.
Wesley Fofana was spotted wiping away tears at full-time
Wesley Fofana was spotted wiping away tears at full-time(Image: Getty Images)
"They have got players all over... this is not a bottom four or five team, they have just come here... they should be crying because they never had a go.
"I am lost for words, I cannot believe what's just happened. They have gone out with an absolute whimper in the semifinal of a big competition.
"If it worked, it was great, but if it hasn't worked, you can't gamble like that. Have a go and go out in a blaze of glory. Don't go out like that. I am lost for words."
Rosenior caught the Gunners off guard by deploying a back five with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap operating as a front two. He switched to a back four after the interval, introducing Estevao and Cole Palmer in place of Jorrel Hato and Delap at half-time.
He also brought on Alejandro Garnacho, but the former Manchester United winger, like his fellow substitutes, failed to make an impact on proceedings.
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Chelsea concluded the match having mustered just 11 shots, with only two troubling the goalkeeper.
The Blues must now turn their attention to an away fixture against bottom-placed Wolves this weekend.
The defeat at the Emirates Stadium marked only Rosenior's second loss as Chelsea manager. His sole previous defeat came against the same opposition in the first leg, where the Blues went down 3-2 in an entertaining encounter.