Arsenal legend Paul Merson has launched a scathing attack on Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior following the Blues’ lackluster elimination from the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night. A dramatic late strike from Kai Havertz—netted deep into second-half stoppage time—secured a 1-0 victory for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium, confirming their place in the final with a 4-2 aggregate triumph.
While Arsenal supporters celebrated a return to Wembley, Merson voiced his frustration with Rosenior’s post-match rhetoric, which focused heavily on long-term development despite Chelsea’s current high-ranking status in the Premier League.
The pundit’s ire stems from Rosenior’s tactical setup, which many observers viewed as overly cautious for a team needing to overturn a first-leg deficit. Rosenior initially deployed a defensive 3-5-2 formation, leaving creative catalysts like Cole Palmer and Estevao on the bench until the final 30 minutes. Merson argued on Sky Sports that the 41-year-old manager’s call for “improvement” felt mismatched with the quality of the squad he inherited from Enzo Maresca. He suggested that Rosenior spoke as if he were managing a relegation candidate rather than a top-five side that was already “flying along” before his recent appointment.
Chelsea’s exit was marked by a lack of offensive urgency, with the team registering just two shots on target throughout the ninety minutes. Merson highlighted the emotional toll on the players, specifically pointing to defender Wesley Fofana’s visible distress at the final whistle as evidence that the squad felt they had not truly contested the tie. The defeat ends Chelsea’s hopes of a domestic cup double, though they remain active in the Champions League and are currently embroiled in a tight battle for a top-four finish in the league.
Analyzing the manager’s defensive mindset and the subsequent reaction from the fans, Paul Merson told Sky Sports: “I would love to talk to Arsenal players and ask, ‘Are you shocked what happened tonight? Did you think Chelsea would come here and have a right go?’ Liam is talking like he came into Chelsea like they were fifth bottom in the league, they were not fifth bottom, they were still flying along, he is talking about improvement, Chelsea fans won’t be happy with that, I am sorry.”
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