LONDON (AP) — Newly established Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has rejected the idea that Arsenal are “going back in time” with their emphasis on set-pieces under Mikel Arteta.
“I don’t know who calls them ‘Set Piece FC’ but I definitely don’t,” Rosenior said on Monday, two days after the English League Cup semi-final first leg clash at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal lead the Premier League by six points and are top of the Champions League with six wins from six league games, but have shown little weakness as they bid to lift their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020 at the end of Arteta’s first season in charge.
Set-pieces are an area Arteta is keen to master and Arsenal are one of the most dangerous teams in England in this aspect of the game, especially now that Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Magalhães has returned to form.
“Arsenal are better in everything,” Rosenior said. “They’re a good team. It’s not about going back in time. It’s about managing the 1% and being a good team, trying to win in as many ways as possible.”
“They are a very good team even without the ball,” added Rosenior, who was hired last week to replace the departed Enzo Maresca. “They have a really, really clear idea of how they want to play with the ball. Plus they’re very, very well organized and perform well on set pieces. That’s what you want if you want to be successful.”
Rossenia’s first game as manager was a 5-1 win over Second Division Charlton Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Rosenior said England players Cole Palmer and Reece James had been left out as their fitness was being “managed” and they could return against Arsenal.
The second leg will be against Arsenal on February 3rd.
Newcastle vs Manchester City is the other semi-final fixture. The first leg will be played in Newcastle on Tuesday.
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