Chelsea will need to be at our best in several different areas if we are to defeat Arsenal on Wednesday evening, according to Liam Rosenior. Meeting that challenge is one the head coach has been preparing for since he arrived at the club last week.
Following Saturday’s FA Cup success south of the river, the opening instalment of our Carabao Cup semi-final tie against the Gunners is the showpiece occasion in which Rosenior will take charge of the Blues at Stamford Bridge for the first time.
For it to have a happy ending, our head coach knows plenty must go right. From his time in the job so far, Rosenior holds confidence that can happen, and he has outlined why.
‘We’ve been working tactically on Arsenal from the moment I came into the club,’ he said. ‘We know what an important game it is, we’ve watched all of their games, analysed every aspect of their game, including set plays, which they’re very good at. There’s a lot you can affect.
‘We talk about systems and tactics, the way you press, the way you build, but what I was very happy with – after only being here for two days – was the attitude of the team against Charlton: in terms of our energy, in terms of our intensity to press, in terms of winning duels.
‘If you don’t have intensity, if you’re not willing to do the basics – win duels or defend set plays well – you make it very difficult to win,’ added Rosenior.
‘I’m confident in the group and they’ve shown, not just in the time before me but in the last few days, that they’re really hungry. They really believe in themselves.’
In any game against Arsenal, set-pieces are bound to be important. After their 4-1 FA Cup win at Portsmouth on Sunday, the Gunners have now scored a remarkable 23 goals from set-pieces in all competitions this season, the most by any club in Europe’s top five leagues.
However, ahead of taking them on at the Bridge, Rosenior stressed Arsenal’s strengths extend beyond the threat they pose from dead-ball situations.
He said: ‘Arsenal are good at everything. They are very good without the ball. They have a really clear idea in the way they want to play with the ball. And on top of that, they’re very well organised with good delivery on set plays.
‘I respect them, and I think they’ll respect us because we’re a good team as well. We’ll need to have a really good game on Wednesday and it’s going to be a great occasion.’
