Chelsea’s newly appointed head coach, Liam Rosenior, has dismissed claims that Arsenal is “taking the game back in time” by emphasizing set pieces under Mikel Arteta.
“I have no idea who is calling them ‘Set Piece FC’ — it’s certainly not me,” Rosenior said on Monday, just two days before the teams face off in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals at Stamford Bridge.
Currently, Arsenal holds a six-point lead in the Premier League and tops the Champions League, boasting six wins from six matches in the group stage. The team is showing few vulnerabilities as it seeks its first trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2020, which marked Arteta’s first season in charge.
Arteta has invested significant effort into refining set pieces, making Arsenal one of the most formidable teams in this regard, especially with the return of Brazilian center-back Gabriel Magalhães to fitness.
“Arsenal excel in every aspect of the game,” Rosenior commented. “They’re a strong team. It’s not about reverting to old tactics. You must optimize every 1% to become the best team capable of winning in various ways.”
Rosenior, who was appointed last week to succeed Enzo Maresca, added, “They are very proficient even without the ball.”
“They have a very clear vision of how they want to play with the ball, and they are exceptionally organized, particularly in their set-piece delivery. That’s essential for achieving success.”
Rosenior’s debut match as head coach resulted in a convincing 5-1 win against Championship side Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round.
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He opted to rest England internationals Cole Palmer and Reece James due to fitness management, with hopes they will return for the match against Arsenal.
The return leg is scheduled for February 3 at Arsenal.
The other semifinal match features Newcastle against Manchester City, with the first leg taking place at Newcastle on Tuesday.