Liam Rosenior has publicly accused Arsenal of showing a lack of respect towards Chelsea after an incident during the warm-up before their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. The Chelsea head coach expressed his frustration after television footage captured him in a heated exchange with an unidentified Arsenal staff member who had strayed into Chelsea's half of the pitch at the Emirates Stadium.
An Outburst Over Football Etiquette
Rosenior, who was seen visibly angered at the time, explained his reaction in detail on Thursday. He emphasised that there are unwritten rules and certain etiquettes in football that should be observed by all clubs. "It wasn't the [Arsenal] players," Rosenior clarified. "I'm respectful. When you warm up, you have your half, the other team have their half. I've never asked my team or my coaches to encroach on the opposition's territory."
The 41-year-old coach stated that the presence of Arsenal staff in Chelsea's designated area was directly affecting his players' and staff's preparation. "In that moment, I didn't think it was right where they were operating," he said. "They were affecting my lads' warm-up and my staff's warm-up. So I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stay in their half."
Respect for Arteta Amidst the Tension
Despite the confrontation, Rosenior was quick to express his admiration for Arsenal's management, specifically highlighting Mikel Arteta. "I don't have an issue with anyone at Arsenal Football Club," he insisted. "A fantastic manager, Mikel Arteta, I've got so much respect for. It was just in that moment, I didn't think that respect was shown to my team."
Rosenior stressed that his actions were not part of any psychological gamesmanship but were driven by a principle of mutual respect. "I'm not here to have mind games," he affirmed. "It's just what I think is right and respectful. Hopefully, we respect that and other teams do too."
Match Outcome and Chelsea's Injury Concerns
The incident preceded a match that saw Arsenal secure their place in the final with a late goal from Kai Havertz, resulting in a 4-2 aggregate victory. Chelsea's approach during the game was criticised as overly cautious, though the team was missing several key players due to injuries.
Looking ahead to Chelsea's upcoming Premier League fixture against Wolves, Rosenior provided an update on player fitness. He confirmed that Cole Palmer, who made a second-half appearance against Arsenal, is ready to play a full ninety minutes. However, the availability of Pedro Neto and Reece James remains uncertain as they recover from minor knocks. The team will also be without Jamie Gittens, who is sidelined with a torn hamstring.
This episode highlights the intense rivalries and high stakes in professional football, where even pre-match preparations can become a point of contention. Rosenior's comments underscore the importance of professionalism and respect between clubs, even in the heat of competition.
